Liverpool are facing their worst start to a Premier League season since Brendan Rodgers was in charge of the Reds
Liverpool manager Arne Slot
Arne Slot saw his Liverpool suffer their sixth league defeat of the season at the weekend
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Liverpool's dismal start to the season has left the Reds with their worst league record since Brendan Rodgers was in charge more than a decade ago. Arne Slot’s side suffered a shock 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest at the weekend, the team’s sixth loss in their last seven Premier League matches.
It was Liverpool’s joint-heaviest home defeat of the Premier League era and saw the club slump to 11th in the table. Slot’s side is facing a similar drop-off to the one that Rodgers dealt with in 2014, as he lost six of his first 12 games, months after narrowly missing out on the league title. The Reds were four points worse off in 12th at the same stage of that campaign.
However, the club’s current struggles are even more stark as reigning champions. Liverpool’s big-spending summer increased expectations, twice breaking their transfer record, and Rodgers previously alluded to the added pressure that comes with high-profile signings.
When asked for his feelings ahead of Liverpool’s heartbreaking defeat to Chelsea in April 2014, Rodgers insisted that the Reds could play with a freedom that was not afforded to their bigger-spending rivals. “People talk about pressure but it's absolutely wonderful,” he said.
“Everyone talks about pressure but that is Manchester City or Chelsea – when you spend that sort of money and expect to win the league. Look at Tottenham - you spend over £100million you'd expect to be challenging for the league.”
For Rodgers, the pressure came the following summer. Liverpool spent more than £100million in total on the likes of Emre Can, Adam Lallana and Mario Balotelli, but failed to reach their previous heights. Rodgers led the team to sixth place, but was eventually sacked in October 2015 after another slow start to a campaign.
Liverpool’s current poor run of results, losing eight of their last 11 in all competitions, has seen Slot come under increasing scrutiny. Despite being a title-winning manager, Slot will continue to be questioned as long as his team’s current form persists.
Brendan Rodgers
Brendan Rodgers' encountered a similar start to the season with Liverpool in 2014
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A club struggling after winning the title is not unique. However, Liverpool’s expensive additions during the summer, including record signings Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, make Rodgers’ historic comments about added pressure ring true.
The lasting impact of Diogo Jota’s tragic death should not be overlooked when discussing a Liverpool squad who are still grieving. However, Slot was prepared to take full responsibility for his side’s shortcomings against Forest on Saturday.
“Of course there is a way out, especially with the quality players we have,” Slot said. “No matter if you win or lose if you make a line-up or make substitutions, when you look back you are also thinking 'where can we do better, where we can adjust?'. But that is something else from doubting yourself.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot
Slot is hopeful of transforming his team's form
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“I want to emphasise I am responsible for the current losses: you are responsible when you are winning but also responsible when you are losing.
“I can never come up with enough excuses for us to have the results we have. That is far from good enough and I am responsible for that.”
Slot is optimistic that his talented squad can rediscover their winning form, having started the league campaign with five consecutive wins before their drastic slump. That would be a marked difference from Rodgers’ tenure as the former Liverpool boss could not mount a second title challenge before being replaced by Jurgen Klopp.