Liverpool Concerns Over Slot, Standards and Squad Attitude
A furious reaction to the Wolves performance lays into Slot, the drop in intensity and what feels like a culture problem. There is also scepticism over any Alonso talk while Slot remains under contract.
That Wolves performance has left a real sour taste, and it feels like it fits a pattern of what we have been served too often this season. For me, it was well below what should be the minimum acceptable level for a Liverpool side, regardless of form or circumstances.
Judging Slot against past managers
I genuinely see Slot as the worst, and luckiest, Liverpool manager in living memory, and possibly the worst in our history. I know some will argue he is no worse than Rodgers or Hodgson, but I cannot agree with that.
Hodgson had far weaker players to work with and, in my view, his results were just as good. Rodgers, for all the frustrations, got us close to winning the league and, more importantly, there were long spells where I actually enjoyed watching us play.
I also do not buy into the idea that Slot won us the league. To me, that was Klopp's second league title in all but name.
Wages, standards and players going through the motions
We apparently have the highest wage bill in the Premier League, yet over the last 12 months it has looked like some lads are stealing a living. I cannot remember thinking that to any significant degree under managers going right back to Bill Shankly.
The bigger issue for me is what feels like a deteriorating culture. Too many players no longer look like they have pride in wearing the shirt. The feeling is that as soon as a big club is said to be interested, some of them practically down tools and start playing within themselves, just trying to get to the end of the season without picking up an injury.
That is why I am pointing the finger at Konate, Gapko, Gravenburch and especially Mac Allister. Whether the links are real or not, the performances are what we are all watching, and the commitment does not look right.
Pressing, second balls and the basics of competing
On the pitch it shows up in the fundamentals. There is no, or very little, pressing. There is no real appetite to compete for second balls. There is a lack of willingness to tackle and put your body on the line.
Instead, we are seeing players going down far too easily. It is embarrassing to watch at times and it would not have been tolerated under our better sides. For me, Mac Allister is a prime example of it, and it is a bad look in a league where you have to earn everything.
Fitness and what comes next
Then there is the fitness side of it. I see a lack of sharpness in the squad and I put that entirely on Slot.
I do not think he will go before the end of the season, and if we somehow qualify for the Champions League, I can see him still being here next year. That is why I am not buying the narrative that Slot is definitely gone and that there is some nailed-on agreement for Alonso to arrive.
Slot is under contract, and a club cannot act like a replacement is already done while he is still in post. Any supposed verbal agreement involving Edwards and/or Hughes is worth nothing. And if Slot only goes in the event we miss out on the Champions League, I cannot see why Alonso would choose to walk into what I see as a poor and worsening culture.
Right now it feels like we might be stuck watching slow, turgid, passionless football for a while yet, and that is the most worrying part of all.
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