Liverpool’s current form has them on track to miss out on an automatic spot in the Champions League knockout rounds in a blow that will be damaging for Arne Slot
Arne Slot
Arne Slot's worst Liverpool fears are coming true(Image: Getty Images)
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Liverpool are now expected to miss out on an automatic qualifying spot into the Champions League knockout rounds, according to the latest supercomputer predictions. The Reds’ 4-1 defeat to Dutch side PSV Eindhoven at Anfield on Wednesday extended their woeful form.
Arne Slot's side have now lost nine of their last 12 games in all competitions. It also leaves Liverpool some way off the pace in the race to earn a direct route the latter stages of the Champions League.
They currently sit 13th in the group stage standings - with only the top eight progressing to the last-16 of the competition automatically. And while Liverpool still have time to turn their fate around, with three group games to come against Inter Milan, Marseille and Qarabag, it has been predicted that they will fall short.
According to Opta, Liverpool are most likely to finish 11th come the end of the league stage, meaning they will face a play-off to reach the round of 16. That could bring up a nightmare tie with the likes Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen, Tottenham, Newcastle, Galatasaray, Juventus and Napoli all among the teams expected to also drop into the playoffs.
That fate is a complete contrast to last season as Liverpool finished top of the Champions League group stage with seven wins from eight games. Despite that, Slot claimed it was more important to secure a spot in the knockout rounds rather than win the league stage.
Speaking last season, Slot said: "If in tennis you are the No. 1 seed it is better to face the No. 24 than the 12, but it is a ranking based on years.
"Now we are in a new format when some teams are high in the league table because they had a lucky draw and some teams are low because they have a very difficult draw. It is far off to say it is an advantage to be one or two. You might be lucky, you might be very unlucky.
"For me, it doesn't tell me anything. The most important thing is we managed to skip a round."
Arne Slot
Liverpool have lost nine out of their last 12 games under Arne Slot
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Another huge difference between Liverpool’s form this season and last is their defensive solidity. The Merseysiders conceded just five goals in the league stage last season, keeping five clean sheets.
They have already let in eight goals this time around, albeit did manage to shut out Real Madrid. Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard has claimed that the side’s defence is culpable for their woes.
He said: "No it's not [acceptable], they're conceding too many goals, they're wide open, they're vulnerable and unstable.
"Anfield tells a story, the seats are empty, PSV were excellent, comfortable here tonight and deserve the victory. Liverpool's problems become deeper, pressure intensifies even more and there needs to be soul searching for sure."
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