“Teams Think They Can Hurt Us Now” says Slot after Anfield Stumble
Arne Slot admitted Liverpool’s once intimidating aura has faded after their 1-1 draw with newly promoted Sunderland at Anfield raised fresh concerns about the champions’ early season form.
The Dutchman didn’t sugarcoat it. Speaking after a third straight home match without victory, he said opponents now arrive believing they can take points off Liverpool, a shift he described as both visible and damaging.
Liverpool’s night unraveled when Chemsdine Talbi stunned the home crowd with a second half opener. Florian Wirtz eventually bailed the champions out with a late equaliser that deflected off Nordi Mukiele, but the point did little to calm the unease inside Anfield.
This result followed back to back home defeats against Nottingham Forest and PSV Eindhoven. For a stadium traditionally associated with late comebacks, suffocating pressure and a psychological edge, the timing couldn’t feel more worrying. Liverpool now sit eighth in the Premier League on 22 points from 14 games, already 11 behind leaders Arsenal but still within touching distance of the top four.
Slot didn’t blame the venue. Instead, he suggested Liverpool’s own level has gradually invited opponents to believe the gap has closed. He referenced even their early season wins, admitting they were narrow and unconvincing enough to “fuel confidence” across the division.
A major talking point came before kickoff when Mohamed Salah was once again left on the bench. It was the second straight match Slot opted to start without the Egyptian forward, though Salah replaced Cody Gakpo at halftime.
Slot defended the switch by pointing to Gakpo’s struggles in individual duels. “Cody struggled to dominate the one vs ones” he said, adding that Liverpool needed a spark if they were going to break through Sunderland’s aggressive press. With the visitors pushing high, Slot believed the team required either “a moment of magic or a set piece” and felt that Gakpo wasn’t producing either.
His tactical reshuffle moved Dominik Szoboszlai away from the right side, restoring Salah to that flank and shifting Wirtz across to the left. Slot argued the changes tightened Liverpool defensively but admitted they still lacked the decisive attacking action that usually defines matches at Anfield.
The broader implications are hard to ignore. A team that once suffocated opponents now appears vulnerable, inconsistent and far too dependent on individual flashes of brilliance. Even with strong possession phases and structured buildup play, Liverpool’s inability to control matches physically or creatively is beginning to shape the narrative of their season.
Fans will wonder whether this is merely a mid season stutter or a sign of deeper issues in Slot’s early tenure. Has the intensity dipped. Have tactical adjustments unsettled key players. Is the squad adapting slower than expected to new demands.
Liverpool head to Leeds United on December 6 with a clear mandate. Restore authority, restore confidence and above all restore a fear factor that seems to be slipping away one draw at a time.