Liverpool fans can't ignore one glaring sign which suggests Slot may actually be the problem right now - opinion

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While Liverpool supporters were stewing over three defeats in a week at the dawn of the last international break, Arne Slot was jetting off to Dubai with his family.To some fans, that may sound like a totally reasonable thing to do. This should set some alarm bells ringing.Photo by Michael Regan/Getty ImagesLiverpool players look different for their countriesWhile Slot’s surprise Premier League win in 2024/25 means he deserves great respect from every Liverpool supporter, he is far from being immune to criticism.Some of the Dutchman’s decisions have been baffling this season and his constant chopping and changing is undoubtedly harming the team.READ MORE: What system Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak played together when thrown on for Liverpool vs Man UnitedPlayers such as Kerkez, Mac Allister and Bradley look transformed while playing for their countries, but reserved, nervous and unsure while wearing the Liverpool kit.These are not bad players, that much is clear, and it had been encouraging to see them show that once again during the break.But the illusion that the pause had wiped the slate clean was shattered within two minutes of Sunday’s game.

Whatever progress Liverpool players had made with their nations was immediately rendered meaningless.Confidence is clearly a problem, but a fair number of players had restored that while away from Liverpool. Slot and his coaching staff are the ones responsible for that, and it is now abundantly clear that they are the ones creating the current issues at Anfield.What is the solution for Liverpool?

The fact that his players can thrive in a different environment but not at Liverpool is a damning indictment of Slot’s capabilities.Clearly, the 47-year-old knows how to get a tune out of plenty of his players, and he should be given grace insomuch as he is still learning how to work with others.But the question is just how long do you let things slide for? As they have shown while wearing Hungary, Netherlands, Northern Ireland and Argentine colours, Liverpool’s stars have not become bad players overnight, that is still encouraging.However, unless the tactical set-up is solved by Slot, Sipke Hulshoff and Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Liverpool will continue to look like a team of strangers.