So Arne Slot knows what needs to be done to restore the Liverpool supremacy next season. He wouldn’t share his thoughts with the media, which is, perhaps, as well since the commentary he did offer bore little scrutiny.
Like many a coach in defeat, Slot’s view of the loss to Manchester United was at variance with reality. He spoke of the control Liverpool exerted after the break yet made no mention of the gifts presented by United that contributed directly to both their goals, and seemed to forget that Liverpool were two down at the break, a deficit that should have been wider.
That great custodian of Liverpool’s soul, Jamie Carragher, was incandescent about the condescension of Liverpool players doing performative keepie-uppies in the tunnel beforehand. In victory, that kind of hauteur is seen as an expression of confidence. In defeat, it revealed to Carragher a lack of focus and seriousness.
As a member of the Liverpool team that once turned up to an FA Cup final against United in white suits, Carragher has experience of the divine madness that persuades a group of cocky ballers it need only turn up to win.
The control of which Slot was so proud was not unique to them. It is a characteristic afforded by a porous United midfield with significant structural failings. Michael Carrick has clearly introduced a unity of purpose and offensive organisation, but he can do little about the inability of Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes to track back, particularly in the latter stages of matches.
Dominik Szoboszlai was again used at right-back against Manchester United (Photo: Getty)So Liverpool, like Brentford a week prior, had control of the pitch in the second half, and with the help of misplaced passes from Amad Diallo and another from keeper Senne Lammens, looked the more likely winners until the remarkable Kobbie Mainoo did his thing.
This allowed Slot to gloss over his contribution to the loss, which included his eccentric preference for career midfielders at right-back and his distrust of his signature signing at left-back, not to mention his reluctance to unleash teenage phenom Rio Ngumoha.
On this occasion Curtis Jones traded places with Dominik Szoboszlai for the job of being Trent Alexander-Arnold, whilst the player signed to replace Alexander-Arnold at right-back, Jeremie Frimpong, was again deputising for the injured Mohamed Salah. Conor Bradley’s injury, one of many, is not helping, but that does not excuse Frimpong’s repeated deployment higher up the pitch
On the left side Slot’s preference for outgoing Andy Robertson over Milos Kerkez in big matches, was a gift to United, serving as rehab for the out-of-form Bryan Mbeumo down United’s right, from where the opening goals resulted.
The loss of the cursed Alexander Isak to a groin strain in training was an obvious blow to a team already deprived of Hugo Ekitike, but Liverpool’s attack was not what cost them. Over and above the perplexing choices at right back, Slot is stuck with centre halves too easily pulled out of shape by United’s rapid counters.
Virgil van Dijk appears to have slowed overnight as if the extra coin he was offered last summer is being carried in his boots. Ibrahima Konate was never the quickest, but when Liverpool had it all their own way in Slot’s first term, he was not exposed as he is now.
During those rapid first-half counters, Liverpool’s rearguard could not cope. It was only United’s own flaws, notably the gap in front of defence where Casemiro should have been, that allowed Liverpool enough of the ball to convince Slot his team had powerful agency.
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Pete Hall: Man Utd finally have four players to build around Daniel Storey: My verdict on every Premier League team after Gameweek 35It is true that Liverpool would have been improved by the availability of Isak and Ekitike up front and Alisson Becker in goal. It is also the case that last summer’s influx, plus the contract extensions to Salah and Van Dijk have created, not solved problems.
Slot looked a genius last term when the team picked itself and Manchester City were negotiating the diminution of Kevin De Bruyne and the loss of Rodri. At times this season Slot has looked overwhelmed if not out of his depth.
The result at Old Trafford to a capricious United could have been worse not better had Fernandes made it three before the break. Instead of sophistry, presenting the outcome as somehow unjust or unrepresentive, Slot needs to be honest with himself. The table does not lie. Neither should he.
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