Liverpool Path Back to the Top: How Slot Can Reignite Salah, Wirtz & Reds

Arne Slot achieved what many had doubted he would in his first season at Anfield, guiding Liverpool to a long-awaited 20th title in England’s top flight.

However, the wheels have fallen off in the Dutchman’s second season in the Premier League, with the Reds already trailing early pacesetters Arsenal by eight points.

With 27 games left, there’s enough time for the reigning champions to return to the title conversation, but their recent performances cannot inspire confidence.

Priced at 11.00 with the best betting apps in UK to claw their way back to the throne, Liverpool must turn their fortunes around quickly if they’re to challenge Arsenal and Manchester City for the crown.

Another top-four finish feels like a more realistic target for the Merseyside giants, with the bookies giving them 1.25 odds to reach next season’s Champions League main draw.

Still, that’s not what the club had in mind when they shelled out around €500 million on several high-profile signings in the summer transfer window.

November’s international break could be Slot’s last chance to get his disjointed side back on track and restore a sense of direction before the title race slips out of reach.

What’s wrong?

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s decision to swap his hometown for Real Madrid has been a catastrophic error.

Not only is he on the fringes at the Santiago Bernabeu, but his departure has heavily affected Slot’s system at Anfield.

Despite his defensive flaws, Arnold’s role in the build-up play was essential, with Liverpool often relying on his progressive passes and playmaking skills to engineer the fluid attacking movements.

Arnold was more than just a right-back for the Reds.

His presence was key to Liverpool’s ability to dominate territory and tempo, something Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong have epically failed at this season.

In addition, Arnold’s tactical awareness often allowed Andy Robertson to exploit spaces on the opposite wing, extracting the best out of the Scottish star.

Robertson’s demotion to the bench has been another major talking point this season, with Pat Nevin recently slamming Slot for benching the Reds talisman (via The Mirror).

Limited to a bit-part role following the arrival of Milos Kerkez, Robertson has watched his influence dwindle despite performing far better than the former Bournemouth defender.

Perhaps the 31-year-old’s reinstation could be a first step towards rescuing Liverpool’s season.

Offensive shortcomings

Liverpool used to tear opposition backlines apart last season, frequently unleashing lightning-fast transitions and diagonal runs to overwhelm even the most organised defences.

With Mohamed Salah in life-form, Slot’s men were a nightmare for their rivals, scoring almost for fun, regardless of who was on the opposite side.

However, the Reds have encountered a new issue this term.

Aware of Slot’s tactics, other teams have changed their approach against Liverpool, relinquishing the high press, which enabled Virgil van Dijk and Arnold to pick out their forwards with long balls.

Now, Liverpool find themselves up against low blocks in almost every game, and they’ve so far been largely unable to penetrate the crowded defensive set-ups.

That’s where marquee summer signing Florian Wirtz was supposed to come into play.

Despite admitting he has ‘no regrets’ over joining Liverpool in a mega-money £125 million deal (via Kolner Stadt-Anzeiger), the 22-year-old playmaker has been a shadow of his former self.

Signed for his playmaking skills in the final third and ability to create chances out of thin air, Wirtz has yet to justify his monstrous price tag.

It feels like his return to form could unlock the attacking potential of this new-look Liverpool side.

X-Factor

What Salah did last season was nothing short of extraordinary. At 33, he topped Liverpool’s charts for goals and assists, delivering the finest season of his career.

However, the Egyptian superstar has lost his magic touch this season.

Given Salah’s status as a living legend at Anfield and his immense contribution to the club since arriving from Roma in 2017, benching him would be ungrateful, even disrespectful.

Yet, it’s hard to escape the supposition that he has been part of the problem and not part of the solution this term.

It takes a brave man to sideline the Reds icon, even temporarily, but it could pay off in the long term.

Maybe one or two games on the bench will serve as a reset, giving both Salah and the team a chance to find their rhythm again.