Liverpool's struggles this season can be attributed to Arne Slot's stubborn refusal to drop Mohamed Salah, despite the Egyptian's subpar form and the obvious imbalance in his team selection.
Slot, a highly decorated manager known for his tactical acumen, has made a rookie mistake by failing to adapt to Salah's diminished effectiveness. The former Roma boss was touted as a master of player selection and strategy, but his decision to keep Salah in the starting lineup despite the team's dismal performances against stronger opponents is nothing short of puzzling.
Salah's absence from the matchday squad has been a welcome sight for Liverpool fans, who have grown weary of watching their star player struggle to make an impact. His lackluster performance in recent games has exposed the team's weakness on the flanks, with Salah often finding himself isolated and unable to provide adequate support to his teammates.
The consequences of Slot's decision are far-reaching. The team's midfield pivot is stretched to breaking point, with players like Alexander Isak and Conor Bradley struggling to cope with the pressure. The lack of physicality in Liverpool's attack has also been exposed, with Wirtz and Mac Allister failing to provide any meaningful threat against stronger opponents.
Slot's reluctance to drop Salah has also hindered his rebuild efforts. The team is stuck in a state of limbo, unable to move forward due to the manager's inability to adapt to the changing circumstances on the pitch. Isak, who was brought in during the summer as a replacement for the struggling Naby Keita, must now shoulder the burden of fixing the team's structural issues.
The question on everyone's mind is: what were Liverpool's executives thinking when they offered Salah a new contract with such generous terms? The decision has left fans scratching their heads, wondering how a team that prides itself on making smart commercial decisions could have made such a glaring error in judgment.
While the total cost of the contract may seem reasonable at first glance, it is clear that Liverpool's willingness to part with £36m for two more years was a mistake. The team would be better off without the weight of this deal, which now serves as a constant reminder of Slot's inability to adapt and make tough decisions.
As the international break provides an opportunity for Slot to regroup and reassess his strategy, it remains to be seen whether he will finally learn from his mistakes and make the necessary changes. For now, however, Liverpool fans can only hope that their manager comes out of this period with a newfound sense of clarity and purpose, one that prioritizes the team's long-term success over personal ego and loyalty to individual players.
Slot, a highly decorated manager known for his tactical acumen, has made a rookie mistake by failing to adapt to Salah's diminished effectiveness. The former Roma boss was touted as a master of player selection and strategy, but his decision to keep Salah in the starting lineup despite the team's dismal performances against stronger opponents is nothing short of puzzling.
Salah's absence from the matchday squad has been a welcome sight for Liverpool fans, who have grown weary of watching their star player struggle to make an impact. His lackluster performance in recent games has exposed the team's weakness on the flanks, with Salah often finding himself isolated and unable to provide adequate support to his teammates.
The consequences of Slot's decision are far-reaching. The team's midfield pivot is stretched to breaking point, with players like Alexander Isak and Conor Bradley struggling to cope with the pressure. The lack of physicality in Liverpool's attack has also been exposed, with Wirtz and Mac Allister failing to provide any meaningful threat against stronger opponents.
Slot's reluctance to drop Salah has also hindered his rebuild efforts. The team is stuck in a state of limbo, unable to move forward due to the manager's inability to adapt to the changing circumstances on the pitch. Isak, who was brought in during the summer as a replacement for the struggling Naby Keita, must now shoulder the burden of fixing the team's structural issues.
The question on everyone's mind is: what were Liverpool's executives thinking when they offered Salah a new contract with such generous terms? The decision has left fans scratching their heads, wondering how a team that prides itself on making smart commercial decisions could have made such a glaring error in judgment.
While the total cost of the contract may seem reasonable at first glance, it is clear that Liverpool's willingness to part with £36m for two more years was a mistake. The team would be better off without the weight of this deal, which now serves as a constant reminder of Slot's inability to adapt and make tough decisions.
As the international break provides an opportunity for Slot to regroup and reassess his strategy, it remains to be seen whether he will finally learn from his mistakes and make the necessary changes. For now, however, Liverpool fans can only hope that their manager comes out of this period with a newfound sense of clarity and purpose, one that prioritizes the team's long-term success over personal ego and loyalty to individual players.
. I get it, he's a superstar player and all that, but come on, you gotta make tough decisions as a manager. The team's performance is suffering because of it. I'm not saying they should drop him cold turkey, but maybe give him some time out or rotate the squad to give other players a chance to shine.
. It's like he's being loyal to the player rather than the team. And £36m is a LOT of money, what were the execs thinking? Did they not do their research on how much Salah was actually contributing to the team?
. The fans are getting restless and I don't blame them one bit. We need to see some changes around Anfield ASAP 
7 goals in 15 games is just 0.47 gpg, down from 1.14 last season. That's a decline of 58% 
Meanwhile, Liverpool's squad depth has taken a hit with injuries to players like Alexander Isak and Conor Bradley 
The lack of rotation has led to player fatigue, which can't be good for the team's long-term prospects 
£36m per year is equivalent to about 1.9 goals scored per game 
. Meanwhile, Liverpool has been struggling in big games since their Champions League semifinal exit last season 
. Arne Slot's tactics have also led to an average possession loss of 10% against top-tier teams 
️. His replacement, Alexander Isak, has averaged 3.8 shots per game, nearly double Salah's average in the same role 
. The question remains, though: can Liverpool's midfield pivot adapt to Isak's style of play? 
. The reported £36m deal is still generous, considering his form has been 30% lower than expected 
.
. It's clear that fans are feeling the pressure and expecting more from their team 
. the team needs a fresh start & somethin has got 2 change, or else they'll be stuck in limbo 4eva 
. This isn't just about Salah's form, it's about the balance in the team. He's been playing him out of position and it's exposing their weakness on the flanks. And honestly, who needs a £36m player if they're not gonna perform? It's time for Slot to put his money where his mouth is and make some tough decisions 
. It's like Liverpool's coaches are stuck in a time loop – they just keep making the same mistakes over and over again.
gotta love the £36m contract tho 
Salah's form has been pretty meh lately and it's like Slot is trying to hold on to something that's not working. 
It's all about finding the right balance between loyalty and making smart decisions for the team. 
. I don't get why Liverpool execs gave him a 2yr deal w/ £36m when they know his tactics are all over the place 
meanwhile isak has to carry the whole team on his back because of it ... i get it, contracts and all that but £36m for two more years? that's a lot of money and not worth it if it means slot is gonna hold the team back from succeeding
Salah isn't having a good run, but that doesn't mean he should be stuck in the team forever. It's like, I get it, the guy's been awesome for years, but his form has dipped and now Liverpool are paying the price 
. Newsflash: slot isn't a rookie anymore, he knows what works and doesn't work, and it's time to stop making excuses for salah's poor performances. The fact that salah hasn't been doing his job is no reason to bench him, especially not when you've got players like Isak and Bradley waiting in the wings to take advantage of the situation 
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. It's all about the manager makin' the right calls and puttin their players in positions where they can succeed.
. I mean, it's not like Salah has been carrying the entire team on his back for years without anyone noticing or making any adjustments. It's just weird that Slot is so stubborn about dropping him, especially considering Liverpool's struggles against stronger opponents 
.