Jim Boardman and Jay Reid are back for another episode of Scouser Tommies on Anfield Index, though under a cloud as dark and miserable as the Merseyside night they are recording on. Following a humiliating run of three defeats - conceding ten goals in the process against City, Forest, and PSV - the hosts attempt to dissect exactly how an "acorn of doubt" has so quickly grown into a forest of problems for Arne Slot’s Liverpool.
The atmosphere at Anfield has turned, not with boos, but with apathy and disappointment, as Jim notes the mass exodus of fans as early as the 75th minute - a sight so rarely seen in even the most miserable seasons of decades past. The goodwill from Slot’s title win is evaporating fast, and the question is no longer about bad luck, but whether the manager has run his course. As Jay explains, the tactics have become "rinse and repeat," with the manager seemingly throwing things at the wall to see what sticks, only to find the wall is in as bad a shape as the defence.
The hosts are baffled by the personnel choices, specifically the stubborn refusal to use recognised defenders. With Joe Gomez and Andy Robertson watching from the bench, while midfielders are shoehorned into that leaking backline, the confusion is palpable. Jay highlights the plight of Dominik Szoboszlai - the one player showing genuine passion and "doing his best Steven Gerrard impression” - constantly being wasted at right-back. Meanwhile, new signings look lost, playing to instructions that seem to strip them of their natural game.
Jim argues that this has escalated to an FSG-level crisis. The failure to sign a centre-back to challenge the established order, despite spending money elsewhere, has come home to roost. Jay says that with the team playing narrow, uninventive football and lacking the bite or "nastiness" required to arrest the slide, the fear is that the club is sleepwalking out of Champions League contention.
As both Jim and Jay point out, fans want to know where the passion is, but the boss seems too “HR-friendly" to show any. There is no sign of passion, no evidence of anger at one capitulation after another. The teacups are safe in that Reds dressing room, as are the same underperforming players who now know their starting place is assured regardless of form.
Jim notes the fire in Steven Gerrard’s voice during his TV work covering the latest game, and whatever might be said about his coaching experience he’s got plenty of the attributes missing from that dressing room right now. If the boss won’t change, is it time the club made the change, before the season is completely lost? As Jay insists, Liverpool FC have to be in the Champions League, and that is looking increasingly unlikely for next season if nothing happens to fix this mess.
With what should be a pretty straightforward run of games now looking daunting - with West Ham, Sunderland, Leeds, Inter, Brighton and Spurs on the horizon - the confidence that the Reds can turn this around is at rock bottom.
Things have got so bad we can’t even laugh at our old neighbours.
