Arne Slot can no longer delay dropping Liverpool player as unsustainable issue clear

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Echo or go back to LFC Live.

Ian Doyle with the main Liverpool talking points after a disappointing Premier League defeat at home to Manchester United on Sunday afternoonIan Doyle has covered Liverpool for more than 20 years, following them across Europe in multiple Champions League and Europa League finals and as far afield as Thailand, Singapore, the United States, Hong Kong and Qatar, and has reported on the Reds winning every major honour. There was, though, no doubt United had targeted Alexander-Arnold and Liverpool’s full-backs in general as an area to exploit.Given the wide areas of the defence remain in a state of flux for the Reds this season, United, unsurprisingly, repeated that approach with Milos Kerkez this time the player in their sights.It was a wise decision.

But Slot’s call to not introduce Jeremie Frimpong and instead shift Dominik Szoboszlai to right-back merely limited the influence of the Hungarian having impressed in midfield.Reds problem still setLiverpool took to the field with their usual sponsors logo replaced by the message “Play On” to raise awareness for the club and Standard Chartered’s joint initiative to keep girls in sport.That phrase, though, was the last thing the Reds were expecting to hear from referee Michael Oliver barely a minute into this desperate defeat.With Alexis Mac Allister prone on the turf after being accidentally caught on the back of the head by Virgil van Dijk’s elbow, Anfield expected the play, as is customary for such injuries, to be halted.So there was a mixture of astonishment and anger when the game continued and Bryan Mbeumo shot through a weak Giorgi Mamardashvili attempt to save.The Premier League later explained that with the incident having not been spotted by myopic Oliver and his officials, and no foul having been committed, VAR were not compelled to intervene.Liverpool, though, had switched off. Just as they did collectively six minutes from time when, after a clearance from a set-piece had fortuitously dropped for Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire was one of three United players lining up to head in the cross at the far post ahead of Ibrahima Konate.While their main title rivals prosper, dead-ball situations are sucking the life out of Liverpool’s season at present.Liverpool sale knocks 50% off kit and merchThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it.

Learn moreFanatics has slashed the price of Liverpool kits and merch with more than 50% off select items.Defence concerns continueWith both teams starting with goalkeepers who had made only one previous career Premier League start, this was always going to be a test for those lining up in between the sticks.And it’s fair to say United came out on top. The biggest challenge of his Liverpool career is now upon him.Liverpool sale knocks 50% off kit and merchThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it.