Liverpool face PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Wednesday seeking European comfort amid what manager Arne Slot has labeled a "ridiculous" domestic nightmare for the Premier League champions.
Alarming Form and Defensive Frailties
The Reds have suffered eight defeats in their last eleven matches across all competitions, including a devastating 3-0 loss to struggling Nottingham Forest over the weekend. This poor run has left Liverpool languishing in 12th position in the Premier League, intensifying pressure on Dutch manager Slot.
"It is ridiculous. It is unbelievable," Slot stated regarding his team's concerning performance levels. "I have said many times you will never find enough excuses for us to perform like this. It's unexpected for the club, for me, for everyone."
The manager pinpointed defensive vulnerabilities as the primary difference between this season and the last. "The amount of goals we concede is the big difference," he explained. "The first time Forest arrived in our 18-yard box with a set-piece, they scored. It took us a while to recover from that."
Champions League Provides Respite
Europe's elite competition has offered some relief for Liverpool, with three victories in four games, including a notable 1-0 triumph over Real Madrid. These results have positioned them eighth in their group with nine points.
Slot emphasized collective responsibility as the solution to their current struggles. "The whole team has to help out defensively in order to get us out of the slump," he noted, highlighting concerning statistics. "In terms of conceding last season, we had let in zero set-pieces at this time last season. This season, it's nine."
Tough PSV Challenge Ahead
Liverpool confronts a formidable opponent in PSV Eindhoven, who currently dominate the Eredivisie with 11 wins in 13 games and sit six points clear at the top. Despite standing 18th in the Champions League table with five points, Slot recognizes their threat.
"I wouldn't say it's a good opponent to have right now," Slot admitted. "They had a difficult spell last season and the start of this season, but in the last two or three months they are a winning machine."
The Reds can draw some confidence from their impressive home record in Champions League matches, having secured victories in their last thirteen home games in either the league or group stage.
When questioned about proving himself to fans, Slot responded: "It has nothing to do with a situation like this. Every day, you have to prove yourself at this level. You can't say I won a league or anything like that. You have to win the next game, for me and the players."
