Coach Arne Slot: 'Liverpool has completely forgotten the basics of playing football'

Following the 2-3 defeat to Brentford, Coach Arne Slot openly acknowledged that Liverpool “did not manage to do the simplest things,” during the team’s run of four straight defeats in the Premier League.

At Gtech Community Stadium, Liverpool once again disappointed when they were beaten 3-2 by Brentford, extending their painful losing streak in the Premier League. Although Mohamed Salah scored in the 89th minute to narrow the gap, it was not enough to redeem a poor defensive display. This marked the ninth consecutive match The Reds failed to keep a clean sheet, making their hopes of returning to the top look increasingly distant.

After the match, Coach Arne Slot did not hide his frustration: “Another disappointing day. Today, we failed to do the basics well. From the start of the game, everything went wrong. Conceding after just 5 minutes is unacceptable. You cannot win if you concede three goals every match.”

The Dutch coach also acknowledged that Liverpool’s defense was seriously unfocused: “The first goal came from a set piece, something we were warned about. The second was a counterattack we failed to defend properly. Then a penalty ended all hope. We lost control of the match ourselves.”

When asked about the controversial penalty—where Virgil van Dijk was judged to have committed a foul—Slot said: “It’s hard to say. I don’t think the referee initially wanted to award a penalty, but VAR intervened and ruled the ball was inside the box. Still, the fault isn’t with the referee but with us for losing control of the game.”

Also after the match, captain Van Dijk admitted this is Liverpool’s toughest period in many years: “We haven’t kept a clean sheet in 9 consecutive games, and that number says it all. This isn’t anyone’s fault alone; it’s a collective problem. We have to face the truth and improve. Empty words won’t get us out of this situation.”

The loss to Brentford marks the first time since 2017 that Liverpool has lost four consecutive Premier League matches. Previously, they had been defeated by West Ham, Aston Villa, and Crystal Palace. With a shaky defense and declining morale, pressure is mounting on Arne Slot just months into the 2025/26 season.

However, the Dutch coach remains optimistic: “We have to improve the smallest details—pressing, passing, tactical discipline. Football has no miracles, only hard work. If we don’t fix these basic mistakes, no victories will come.”

Liverpool will have a chance to redeem themselves midweek when they return to Anfield to face Nottingham Forest. But with current form, The Reds’ fans are likely feeling more worried than hopeful.

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