Liverpool’s turbulent season reached another low point this week as pressure intensified on manager Arne Slot following a run of results described as the club’s worst in more than seven decades. The reigning Premier League champions have now lost nine of their last 12 matches in all competitions, leaving them sitting 12th in the table and prompting club legend Jamie Carragher to remark that Slot “has a week to save his job.”

Slot, who guided Liverpool to the title in his first campaign, insists he retains the backing of his players despite growing criticism and an alarming slide in form. Speaking after the club’s latest defeat, he maintained that the team’s approach remains sound, even if results do not yet reflect the work being done on the training ground.

“Before the game and during halftime, the message comes across to them,” Slot said. “If I see how we create our chances, it is a lot of the things we train and go through in the meetings. But unfortunately it doesn’t lead to goals, and that is difficult for them, for me, for our fans, for everyone.”

Liverpool’s drop-off has been stark. Since their comprehensive Carabao Cup final defeat to Newcastle in March, the club has won just 14 of 29 matches and scored only one more goal than they have conceded—a statistic that analysts have described as “worrying” for a side known for its attacking strength. Their defensive record, previously among the league’s strongest, has deteriorated sharply.

The downturn has raised questions about whether Liverpool’s issues began long before this season. Some former players and pundits argue that the warning signs were present in the latter stages of the previous campaign. While Liverpool secured the title, performances in the closing months suggested a drop in sharpness, intensity, and cohesion.

Roberto Di Matteo, former Chelsea manager and Champions League winner, noted that several Liverpool supporters had predicted a slump even before preseason. “They were already telling me that the problems started at the end of last season,” he said. “Their preseason was very good, but they’ve carried those issues into this season. They are conceding a lot of goals, which wasn’t the case last season.”

Di Matteo stressed that Liverpool’s struggles stem largely from dwindling confidence. “When you don’t win games, even big players lose confidence. They’re creating chances, which is positive, but they’re not scoring. It becomes a mess very quickly.”

Carragher’s strong warning publicly framed the stakes Liverpool now face. The former defender suggested Slot must take a minimum of seven points from the club’s next three league fixtures—against West Ham, Sunderland and Leeds—to stabilise his position. The expectation reflects the magnitude of Liverpool’s recent decline and the urgency around Slot’s leadership.

Alan Smith, former Arsenal striker and veteran pundit, believes one of Liverpool’s central issues is a lack of conviction across the pitch. “From back to front offensively and from front to back defensively, they show no conviction,” Smith said. “If you’re not at it, you’re not going to win games. And with the statistics against him, Slot is under pressure regardless of what club he is at. But being at Liverpool makes this an even bigger problem.”

Smith highlighted the risks Slot has taken with team selection, including altering both full-back positions and making aggressive in-game substitutions, such as withdrawing a central defender after just 65 minutes to introduce an attacking player. “Decisions like that show the pressure is affecting him,” Smith added.

Slot, who succeeded Jürgen Klopp—a manager renowned for relentless intensity—has also faced scrutiny regarding the physical demands placed on the squad. According to Smith, Klopp’s famously high-energy style may have amplified the contrast with Slot’s approach. “I was told Klopp’s training sessions were full on, 110%,” he said. “Slot’s are a bit lower, maybe a lot lower, and they’ve lost the intensity that feeds into games.”

For some, it is not simply Liverpool’s tactical structure but the overall mood at the club that is suffering. Di Matteo reflected on his own experience, having been dismissed by Chelsea just months after winning the Champions League and FA Cup. “At big clubs, when you lose one game it’s a mini crisis, and two games is a full-blown crisis,” he said. “You can only imagine what the environment is like at Liverpool right now. The only way to come out of it is by winning.”

Amid Liverpool’s broader struggles, Mohamed Salah’s dip in form has emerged as a separate focal point. The Egyptian forward, previously the team’s most reliable attacking outlet, has not produced the level of output expected. Although Salah’s distance covered this season exceeds last year’s at the same stage, his expected goals (xG) has dropped significantly.

Smith cautioned against placing disproportionate blame on the forward. “You cannot single out one player when the team structure isn’t working,” he explained. “Those stats are warped because the team is not playing well. He’s doubled up on constantly. His xG is down because Liverpool aren’t creating the same quality of chances.”

Di Matteo agreed, describing Salah’s struggles as reflective of broader team issues. “These are the players who carried them last season,” he said. “They’re human. They’re having a dip in form. It’s more of a team problem than an individual one.”

Salah’s future has also been a subject of public debate, following heavy speculation last season about a lucrative potential move to Saudi Arabia. Smith suggested that the player may still be adjusting emotionally. “There has been a lot on him—the contract, the links to Saudi Arabia, the new manager,” he said. “I’m not sure he’s settled yet.”

Beyond Salah, other new signings have struggled to adapt. Anthony Gordon, who arrived amid significant expectations, has endured a difficult start—becoming the first Liverpool player to lose each of his opening four league matches for the club. Analysts point out that many of his goals at Newcastle came from fast crosses and balls in behind—patterns less common in Slot’s more controlled possession system.

Gordon’s adjustment challenges reflect a wider concern about Liverpool’s tactical fit and squad suitability. Several players have yet to find consistent roles, and the team’s defensive disconnect has created vulnerabilities that opponents have exploited with increasing ease.

Slot reportedly maintains constant dialogue with senior members of the squad to manage morale and seek leadership within the dressing room. Di Matteo noted the importance of experienced players during such periods. “He will have a group of players he speaks to—your captain, vice-captain, the ones with more experience,” he said. “There is no magic recipe. You break it down, defend well, attack well, stay compact and try to win the next game.”

As Liverpool look ahead, the mood around Anfield is one of caution and concern. Their upcoming fixtures—beginning with West Ham—are expected to be pivotal, both for the club’s standing and Slot’s future. With confidence low, performances inconsistent, and questions mounting, the club faces a critical period that may determine both the trajectory of its season and the tenure of its manager.