Liverpool better hope Slot is the problem
If this is the best this collection of players are capable of, then it will be a long time before the Reds are challenging for major honours again.
After each of Liverpool’s 17 defeats this season, fierce debate has raged among supporters regarding the causes.
Many fans have a favourite issue to pin every failing on, often tending to be entrenched in that singular view.
And fortunately for those involved, whether you prefer to blame the manager, the sporting director, or the players, this wretched campaign has provided plenty of evidence to support your view.
However, it should be acknowledged that Liverpool cannot afford for one of these positions to be proven right if they are to turn things around any time soon.
That is the idea that this collection of players simply isn’t capable of offering more than they currently are.
There certainly looked to be a kernel of truth in that claim as the Reds fell to defeat in Paris on Wednesday, with several summer signings making little impact.
For example, Hugo Ekitike lost two thirds of his duels and completed just 59% of his passes as he was swallowed up by the PSG defence.
The Frenchman is still only 23 years of age and has enjoyed a fine debut season on the whole, but he is also clearly not the finished article at this level and needs to show more.
Alongside him, Florian Wirtz was similarly ineffective, putting in another quiet performance that supported the view that his influence has somewhat tailed off in recent weeks.
It was hoped that his arrival in a £116m deal would close the gap in games like this, but he could only provide glimpses of quality - as has been the story of his campaign as a whole.
Meanwhile, Alexander Isak’s return to action represented a boost, but his injury history was a worry even before he effectively sat out his first season at Anfield.
The problems were not just restricted to summer additions, either, with previously reliable stars such as Ryan Gravenberch and Ibrahima Konate struggling.
One of those players recently signed a new long-term deal, and it is understood that discussions over the other doing the same are now advancing towards a conclusion after an initial impasse.
