Liverpool still must replace Arne Slot this summer – Opinion

Liverpool still must replace Arne Slot this summer – Opinion

A Win That Should Change Very Little

Victory in a Merseyside Derby will always carry weight. It lifts mood, it buys time, and it offers a momentary shield from criticism. But context matters, and this was a win that revealed just as many problems as it masked.

Liverpool did not control the game in any meaningful way. There were no consistent patterns of play, no clear attacking identity, and no sense of a team operating within a well-drilled system. Instead, it was another performance built on moments—individual quality rather than collective cohesion.

That has become the defining trait of this side under Arne Slot.

Even in victory, the issues remain glaring. The midfield lacks balance and robustness, unable to both protect the defence and support the attack with any real authority. Too often, it becomes stretched, passive, or bypassed. This leaves the forward line isolated and forces defenders into uncomfortable situations.

More concerning is the use—or misuse—of key attacking players.

Alexander Isak looks like a forward searching for structure that simply does not exist. His movement is intelligent, but the service is inconsistent and poorly timed. Florian Wirtz, one of the most gifted creators in Europe, continues to drift through games without influence, not because of a lack of quality, but because the system does not maximise his strengths.

These are not minor issues.

They are systemic failures, and they point directly to the coaching.

A single win, even in a high-pressure derby, cannot erase a season of inconsistency, confusion, and underperformance. If anything, it reinforces the idea that Liverpool is succeeding despite their structure, not because of it.

Relief, Not Success — and a Necessary Reset