Liverpool's collapse at Leeds was a stark reminder that this season's title holders are far from invincible. Gary Neville, the former Manchester United right-back turned Sky Sports pundit, was scathing in his assessment of the Reds' performance, calling it an "implosion" and declaring that he couldn't trust them.
The evidence is mounting. Since their 4-0 thrashing at City in October, Liverpool have won just four of their last 15 games across all competitions, with a dismal 10-point gap to leaders Arsenal. Their recent form has been abysmal, and Neville's words are not just the ramblings of an armchair expert.
The problem is clear-cut: settling this new team into a cohesive unit has proven impossible for manager Arne Slot. The arrival of five players in the summer transfer window has disrupted the team's dynamics, with star players like Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak struggling to find form.
It's not just about individual players; it's also about the team's mentality. Liverpool have always prided themselves on their defensive solidity, but that was on full display at Leeds as they struggled to cope with set-pieces. Neville was right; the ones to blame are Slot and his coaching staff.
While Slot has taken a fair share of criticism for the collapse, he also deserves credit for the performances in the previous two games. A 4-0 win over Chelsea followed by a narrow defeat at Man City have suggested that the team is still capable of producing moments of brilliance.
However, it's time to knuckle down and work on refining the squad. The January transfer window could provide an opportunity to address some of these issues, but for now, Slot must focus on getting the best out of his existing players, particularly Florian Wirtz and Isak.
Leeds, meanwhile, have given themselves a glimmer of hope in their fight against relegation. Their performances over the past week – including a narrow defeat at Man City – have suggested that they are capable of competing with some of the bigger teams.
As Neville so aptly put it, this has been "the week of hope" for Leeds, and they should cherish every moment of it. With five points above the drop zone, they still have a fighting chance to avoid the Championship next season.
For Liverpool, however, the implosion continues. It's time for Slot to take charge, get his players on the same page, and start planning for the second half of the season. Anything less would be an insult to the fans who have endured so much disappointment in recent months.
The evidence is mounting. Since their 4-0 thrashing at City in October, Liverpool have won just four of their last 15 games across all competitions, with a dismal 10-point gap to leaders Arsenal. Their recent form has been abysmal, and Neville's words are not just the ramblings of an armchair expert.
The problem is clear-cut: settling this new team into a cohesive unit has proven impossible for manager Arne Slot. The arrival of five players in the summer transfer window has disrupted the team's dynamics, with star players like Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak struggling to find form.
It's not just about individual players; it's also about the team's mentality. Liverpool have always prided themselves on their defensive solidity, but that was on full display at Leeds as they struggled to cope with set-pieces. Neville was right; the ones to blame are Slot and his coaching staff.
While Slot has taken a fair share of criticism for the collapse, he also deserves credit for the performances in the previous two games. A 4-0 win over Chelsea followed by a narrow defeat at Man City have suggested that the team is still capable of producing moments of brilliance.
However, it's time to knuckle down and work on refining the squad. The January transfer window could provide an opportunity to address some of these issues, but for now, Slot must focus on getting the best out of his existing players, particularly Florian Wirtz and Isak.
Leeds, meanwhile, have given themselves a glimmer of hope in their fight against relegation. Their performances over the past week – including a narrow defeat at Man City – have suggested that they are capable of competing with some of the bigger teams.
As Neville so aptly put it, this has been "the week of hope" for Leeds, and they should cherish every moment of it. With five points above the drop zone, they still have a fighting chance to avoid the Championship next season.
For Liverpool, however, the implosion continues. It's time for Slot to take charge, get his players on the same page, and start planning for the second half of the season. Anything less would be an insult to the fans who have endured so much disappointment in recent months.
. They're supposed to be the title holders, but it's like they're struggling to even show up on the pitch. Gary Neville is spot on with his assessment of an "implosion" - it's clear that Arne Slot's got some major work to do to get this team back on track 
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. And it's also about fixing the defensive issues they're having - set-pieces are a nightmare for them right now 
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! They've got some big games coming up, but if they can keep this momentum going, maybe they can pull off an amazing escape from relegation 
️.
Arne Slot's team is all over the place 
They just can't seem to get it together 
Not since that 4-0 thrashing at City, they've been struggling to find their footing 
The new signings are a bust 
and Slot's coaching is all over the place 
Neville's words stung, but I'm not surprised 
The team needs a reboot 
and some serious squad management 
Florian Wirtz and Isak are decent, so let's see them shine 
But for now, the Reds need to get their act together and stop making excuses 
Leeds, on the other hand, have given themselves a fighting chance 
They're not out of it yet 
The Championship is still a long shot, but hey, at least they've got some hope 
Who knows, maybe the Reds can learn from them 
does anyone else have weird dreams? and omg has anyone tried that new pizza place downtown? heard its fire 
. They've got all the right parts, but they need to sync them together seamlessly 
. Arne Slot's squad changes were like trying to cram too many apps on your phone - it just doesn't work 
. Now, if he can get his players to work as a cohesive unit, I think they'll be back in the running 
. It's like upgrading your phone - you don't need new hardware, just better software 
. And honestly, Leeds' recent performances have been like a breath of fresh air 
️ - maybe this season is finally their year to shine?
. It's like they got caught with their pants down, you know? Arne Slot just can't seem to get it right, and those players are just not meshing together like they used to 
. But you know what? Leeds might be onto something here 
. They might actually have a shot at staying up this season!
. Get those players firing on all cylinders again, and maybe – just maybe – they'll make a comeback 
. But if not, well... it's time to face the music 
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. And those set-pieces were a nightmare 
. Florian Wirtz and Isak are great players, but they can't do it alone 
. But for Liverpool, it's all about getting back to basics 
. Can Slot get his team in sync? Only time will tell 
but hey at least dey still managed 2 win dat Chelsea game 
This Liverpool collapse is like a harsh wake-up call 
. They're not as invincible as we thought 
. Their defensive solidity was non-existent at Leeds, which is like a punch in the gut 
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. The team still has moments of brilliance 
! They've got a fighting chance to avoid relegation and make some noise in the league