Liverpool’s ex-captain and current manager disagree on the current state of the team following their collapse against Tottenham.
Rant Sport‘s Loki de Pontes looks at the difference of opinion between Arne Slot and Jamie Carragher, and what it reveals about the current state of Liverpool.
One bad match for a difficult season
On Monday Night Football, former Liverpool defender and now Sky Sports pundit Carragher lamented the team’s style of play following their 1-1 draw at Anfield against the relegation candidates.
He questioned the squad’s inability to build chemistry and form partnerships across the pitch, feeling that players are essentially playing for themselves.
“Liverpool are not a team. They are a team of individuals,” he said.
He went on to point out the failure of the team’s press as a key element as to why the team has played so poorly this season, particularly when you realise that pressing used to be one of their strong suits.
Slot hit back at these comments during his pre-match press conference for the clash against Galatasaray.
His angle on Carragher’s comments was interesting. He thought the argument was that Liverpool are prone to giving up on games, rather than anything tactical. Of course, he disagreed.
“A team that has given up, a team of individuals, a team that doesn’t work together, doesn’t show that resilience after our 120th setback this season,” said the Reds boss.
He went on to say that he has agreed with many of Carragher’s opinions on Liverpool throughout the season, but does not see it the same way this time.
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Misunderstanding the point
I don’t think Slot is necessarily grasping what Carragher meant.
The pundit’s criticisms of the team are based on how they play, not on the passion they show in their fight for Champions League football.
He implied as much when he stated that the team is not a cohesive unit when “attacking or defending”.
I would have to agree with Carragher, as the team’s lack of chemistry is evident in both phases of play.
Out of possession, players are often out of position and losing their marking assignments, leading to them conceding goals like Rodrigo Gomes’ for Wolves.
In attack, they struggle to break down teams through interplay among team-mates, often relying on opponents’ mistakes or Szoboszlai worldies to pick up points.
After spending the ludicrous amount they did on improving a title-winning side, Liverpool have not been able to capitalise on the lack of true title contenders this year.
Both Isak and Wirtz have shown glimpses, but neither has been even close to the required level.
While there are certainly issues outside of the manager’s control (like Mohamed Salah’s drastic decline), Slot has to take the blame for the squad’s inability to work together as a team.
That’s what Carragher was saying, and Slot’s inability to recognise that does not bode well for his murky future at Anfield.
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