Liverpool’s Premier League title victory marked a triumphant return to the summit of English football under a new manager and a new tactical identity.

Arne Slot’s side, in what many expected to be a transitional debut season, has delivered a historic twentieth league title to the club and yet, as the final weeks of the campaign unfold, some have been quick to cast a critical eye over Liverpool’s recent performances.

The Reds have become the first side in Premier League to not win any of their next three league matches as champions and we will be discussing why Liverpool’s criticism is a lazy form of recency bias, without any context and perspective on the situation.



CHAMPIONS FATIGUELiverpool FC.

The pursuit of a league title demands sustained intensity over thirty-eight matches, often with the added load of domestic and European competitions.

Mikel Arteta is playing with fire with his latest outburst and if he isn't careful, there's a ruthless figure at Arsenal who will get rid of him	Mikel Arteta is playing with fire by calling out Arsenal board and if he isn't careful, there's a ruthless figure who will get rid of him	Premier League LIVE: Liverpool facing Brighton with Salah captain for first time, Lineker leaves BBC early, Man City pull out of Wirtz race

Once that goal is achieved and with games remaining, the emotional comedown is both inevitable and understandable.

Liverpool’s recent dip in form is far from unprecedented.

In fact, it follows a well-worn path trodden by some of the Premier League’s greatest sides.

In 2001, Manchester United sealed the title in April but lost three of their final five matches, including a 3-1 defeat to Arsenal and a 1-0 loss to Derby County, who would go on to be relegated the next season.

Chelsea comfortably won the title in 2014-15, but failed to win three of their last six games, drawing to Liverpool and Arsenal, as well as a humiliating 3-0 away defeat to West Brom.

José Mourinho even admitted his side had mentally switched off after securing the title.

Even Liverpool themselves, have been in this exact position after winning their first Premier League in 2020.

The Reds sealed their fate with seven matches to spare and subsequently went on to drop points in three of their remaining games.

A 4-0 thrashing away at Manchester City was followed by a narrow defeat to Arsenal and a drab home draw with Burnley.

Pep Guardiola’s side clinched the title with three games to spare in 2022-23, following an Arsenal collapse and subseqently went onto draw with Brighton and lose at Brentford, with the priority having already shifted towards their UEFA Champions League Final, in which they won.

These examples tell a consistent story that even the great sides lower their tempo once the title is wrapped up.

It’s not about complacency, its about conservation, rotation and the impossibility of maintaining full focus when the objective is already achieved.

UNFAIR NARRATIVES

Why, then, is the reaction to Liverpool’s post-title form more intense than it has been for other champions?

Part of it is the modern football discourse.

In the age of social media, punditry and where nuance has become a casualty, a couple of off-colour performances are enough to spawn lazy conversations around professionalism and disrespect to the competition.

In the aftermath of Liverpool’s Premier League triumph, the team’s celebratory trips to Dubai and Ibiza have come under scrutiny from certain quarters.

Critics have questioned the professionalism of both players and manager, Arne Slot, for their antics whilst the season remains ongoing.

Arne Slot partying in Ibiza’s O-Beach last week.

However, such criticism overlooks the context of a grueling season and the common practice among champions to unwind after securing league titles.

The narrative that Liverpool’s post-title festivities indicate a lack of professionalism fails to consider the physical and emotional toll of a full campaign.

It also ignores both precedent and common sense, with comments not only disproportionate but deeply misaligned with the reality of what they have achieved.

NOTHING LEFT TO PROVE

The criticism of Liverpool’s late-season form overlooks a simple truth – they’ve earned the right to take their foot of the pedal after nine months of relentless work.

Whether it is rotation, loss of sharpness or a dip in motivation, these are not signs of any permanent dropping of standards, they’re just signs of reality.

The luxury of easing off in the final fixtures is one they fought hard to earn and to demand the same level of intensity in dead rubber games compared to when something is on the line is just a complete misunderstanding of elite-level sport.

Football has always been a game of short memories and loud reactions, but those who choose to step back from the noise will see the broader picture.

When the dust settles on this season, it won’t be the late slips or the trips abroad that define Liverpool’s campaign, it will be the Premier League title, with the excitement of trophy celebrations and a victory parade that is still to come.

Want to get the latest Liverpool news direct to your phone?
For more news relating to Manchester City, visit our sister site City Latest Live.