Many Liverpool fans have gone from believers to doubters in Arne Slot's second season as the reigning Premier League champions look lost and their manager out of ideas
Neil Docking
18:00, 28 Nov 2025
In the dying seconds of Liverpool's 4-1 hammering at the hands of PSV Eindhoven, a fan on the Kop yelled out: "Don't boo!"
Suffice to say, from the jeers that greeted the final whistle after seeing their side thrashed by a three-goal margin for the third game in a row, not everyone agrees with what constitutes 'the Liverpool way'.
The majority of fans still inside Anfield did clap off the team who just six months ago lifted a record-equalling 20th league title. But thousands had long since left. And no one could disagree that many Reds have now gone from believers to doubters.
After Ibrahima Konate's latest calamity saw PSV go 3-1 up, it felt like the majority of players and the crowd gave up, despite there being 17 minutes left on the clock.
You can add Arne Slot to that number. He cut a helpless figure, just hours after admitting he was "confused" - like the rest of us - why he "cannot find a way of winning".
Arne Slot's Liverpool team reached a new low against PSV Eindhoven at Anfield
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Arne Slot's Liverpool team reached a new low against PSV Eindhoven at Anfield(Image: Getty Images)
At the start of September, following a win against Arsenal, I wrote how proud I was of the players for winning their opening three games while still mourning the loss of Diogo Jota.
That sympathy and empathy remains, as does my gratitude and respect towards Slot for winning the title, and his statesman-like handling of the chaotic events of the victory parade and horrific Jota tragedy.
But there's a growing sense that he may not be able to halt this downward spiral. His side are somehow getting worse, having lost a staggering nine of their last 12 games.
Arne Slot lifted the Premier League just six months ago but has overseen an abysmal second season so far
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Arne Slot lifted the Premier League just six months ago but has overseen an abysmal second season so far(Image: Carl Recine, Getty Images)
Liverpool are a soft touch. Their famed press is a shambles - they could not be easier to play through. The midfield is weak and wide open.
The defence is disorganised. Mohamed Salah doesn't even look like scoring. And Virgil van Dijk is no longer "calm as you like".
Sporting director Richard Hughes also has questions to answer over an unbalanced squad. Around £450m was spent, but no centre back or Luis Diaz replacement brought in.
Liverpool's players are getting used to losing heavily every week
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Liverpool's players are getting used to losing heavily every week
How this team misses the pace, ball-carrying ability, pressing and aggression the Colombian provided. Dominik Szoboszlai must look around and wonder if it's just him against the world.
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But the buck stops with Slot. He still has great players at his disposal. And almost every week they are losing against teams with less talent, but far more structure, discipline and fight.
It's simply not good enough. And how long it can continue before a very difficult decision may have to be made by Liverpool's owners is the question on many supporters' minds.