Liverpool have unavoidable problem and Arne Slot knows what will happen next
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Echo or go back to LFC Live.
The Reds winning the championship can be rather dangerous for those operating at the heart of the defence.Supporters won't need reminding what happened back in the 2020/21 season when, after Jurgen Klopp's side had romped to the title the previous campaign, they lost first Virgil van Dijk, then Joe Gomez and finally Joel Matip to season-ending injuries.But it doesn't end there. The most recent title before then, won back in 1990, saw Alan Hansen feature in the game that sealed the crown - a 2-1 win over Queens Park Rangers - but then never play again for the club due to injury.READ MORE: Liverpool suffer fresh injury setback as striker dealt new fitness concernREAD MORE: Arne Slot faces major Hugo Ekitike decision as Liverpool consider defensive overhaulAnd Liverpool were well on their way to winning the 1987/88 championship when Mark Lawrenson, having had a spell out earlier in the campaign, walked off midway through a key victory over Arsenal and was forced to retire a few months later.So to this season.
After a series of indifferent showings at the start of the season, the France international had appeared to have turned the corner with a return to form.Then came Saturday when, in the first half in particular, Konate had a shocker, responsible for gifting Crystal Palace two gilt-edged chances and spreading uncertainty throughout the Liverpool defensive ranks.In fairness, he wasn't alone in struggling. And it's why there should have been no surprise the Reds were unable to find sufficient rhythm and momentum to overcome a Palace team who for good reason are now 18 games unbeaten and the FA Cup holders.If consistency - both in selection and personnel - was key to the blistering start to Arne Slot's reign last season, this time around the lack of such an attribute is reason why their displays have overall been way short of realising their full potential.And it's why the maximum points picked up during the first five games - particularly at Newcastle United and home to Arsenal - were so crucial, regardless of the level of performance.Slot knows this.
Don't forget, that was only a fifth defeat in 44 Premier League games under the Dutchman, two of which were after the title was won last season.But where there was certainty last term, now there is a doubt. Mohamed Salah is suffering as a consequence after spending much of his Anfield career with the England international behind him, while Florian Wirtz - the man Slot believes can replicate Alexander-Arnold's creativity but from a different area of the pitch - is still some way from properly adapting to a different club, league and country.Throw in Alexander Isak having to play catch-up with fitness and integrating into a revamped attack where the pace and direct running of Luis Diaz are no longer a part, and it's evidently impossible for so many new parts to fit into place immediately.Hugo Ekitike has been the obvious immediate standout from the summer recruitment drive, but even he learned the hard way this weekend about the importance of availability - particularly when the absence was so stupidly self-inflicted.With a trip to Chelsea on Saturday before returning after the international break with the visit of bitter North West rivals Manchester United and a tricky journey to Brentford, the task continues to be awkward for Liverpool, who also must visit Manchester City in the next batch of fixtures.If those making preposterous claims of the title being done and dusted as recently as last week with 33 games to go are now hurriedly revising their predictions, Slot will have not been getting carried away.Saturday was a reminder this Liverpool are very much a work in progress and more growing pains should be anticipated - and are indeed an unavoidable consequence of such squad evolution.