Arne Slot looks completely defeated after Friday press conference as he already makes excuses for Liverpool’s possible loss to Leeds United

Arne Slot walked out of his Friday press conference looking like a man under immense pressure, with many observers feeling he appeared defeated even before Liverpool kick off against Leeds United.

The Liverpool boss has already started providing reasons for why the match could go wrong, which has only increased the concerns surrounding his future at the club.

Slot’s situation at Anfield is becoming more desperate by the week. Wednesday’s disappointing 1-1 draw against Sunderland did nothing to help his chances of surviving in the job, and it followed an unconvincing 2-0 victory against a weak West Ham side last weekend.

Even that win did not inspire confidence, and Liverpool came dangerously close to suffering what would have been their tenth defeat in 14 games before eventually rescuing a point late on against Sunderland.

The draw leaves Liverpool sitting in ninth place in the Premier League table, far from the level expected of a club that competed for major trophies just last season. They have also slipped down their Champions League group and were dumped out of the Carabao Cup, leaving fans frustrated and demanding answers.

While Slot is not the only reason for Liverpool’s current crisis, he remains at the center of it. FSG’s questionable transfer policy and the dip in form from several senior players also deserve criticism.

However, Slot’s decisions have been under intense scrutiny. He has made too many changes too quickly to a squad that previously won the league, and some of his tactical choices and starting lineups have been heavily questioned by supporters and pundits.

On the pitch, Liverpool have become disjointed and ineffective. They lack the energy, intensity, and sharpness that defined their football in recent years. The team appears confused and unbalanced, with Slot unable to find solutions to the ongoing problems.

In Friday’s press conference, Slot tried to highlight what he considered “positives” in the recent performances. He pointed out that Liverpool were just a single deflection away from keeping clean sheets in their last two matches and praised the summer signings for gradually improving.

He also referenced the Leeds vs Chelsea game, saying Chelsea struggled with the same type of aggressive pressing that has troubled Liverpool.

Slot insisted that the style Leeds use is a challenge for many teams, not just Liverpool, and reminded journalists of his side’s strong second-half comeback against Manchester City earlier in the season. However, many felt these explanations sounded more like excuses than genuine progress.

For now, Slot remains under major pressure, and Liverpool fans are waiting to see how long the club will tolerate this downward spiral.