Liverpool need to urgently sort out their defence after conceding an incredible 20 goals across 12 Premier League matches.
The Reds have dropped into the bottom half of the table after a second consecutive 3-0 defeat.
Liverpool look a far cry from the team which swept to the Premier League title last season, with the problems being rooted in a lack of defensive stability.
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A serious knee injury to new signing Giovanni Leoni in September has had a knock-on effect, leaving Arne Slot with only three senior options at centre-back: Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez.
Konate is in appalling form and has been for a while, but despite the Frenchman’s catastrophic performances, Slot will not turn to Gomez at all. Injuries have been an issue for the 28-year-old, rendering him more or less redundant.
Liverpool chose not to sell Gomez in the summer, despite a reported proposal from Crystal Palace. Palace were offering to take the versatile defender as part of a deal involving Marc Guehi. Unfortunately, Liverpool said no, a decision which continues to look worse with every passing game.
Joe Gomez in action during Liverpool's Carabao Cup match against Southampton at Anfield.
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Liverpool should have accepted Joe Gomez exit
Gomez has been a terrific servant for Liverpool and arguably deserves far more playing time than he is getting under Slot.
However, if the Liverpool head coach is not going to use him, then he absolutely should have let him go over the summer.
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Gomez’s appeal is that he can play across the whole back four, but even with Liverpool’s struggles at full-back this season he has not been used at all.
In hindsight, the right thing to do was to let Palace take Gomez to facilitate Guehi joining. The Eagles ultimately pulled the plug on the Guehi deal because of a lack of a suitable replacement. Gomez would surely have been that player for them.
Should Liverpool sack Arne Slot?
Arne Slot following Liverpool v Nottingham Forest - Premier League
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Had Liverpool signed the Palace captain, he would long since have taken his place in the starting XI next to Van Dijk.
Perhaps the Reds would still be far below where they’re expected to be. But at least fans would not have to watch Konate cost them on a weekly basis all while running his contract into the ground.
Liverpool can rectify their mistake in January
Of course, there is still a window in which Liverpool can make up for their clear mistake and save their season.
Having seen what his Slot’s defence has been serving up this term, it would be criminal if Liverpool were not in for a new centre-back in January.
Palace are expecting Liverpool to make another play for Guehi, and instead of messing around with negotiation tactics, the Reds should make them an offer they can’t refuse.
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The need for another option is now far too great, it could even be the difference between three or four places in the Premier League table.
Liverpool tried to be too clever over the summer and look where it got them. Now is the time to eat humble pie and accept that costly mistakes were made.