Arne Slot NEEDS To Make This Change To Save Liverpool…And His Job

Arne Slot NEEDS To Make This Change To Save Liverpool…And His Job

It’s fair to say that not even the biggest Liverpool doubters could have foreseen how the Reds 2025/26 campaign has gone so far.

The Premier League Champions, who won the league with 84 points last season, find themselves in what has to be described as a crisis situation.

After starting the first five games of the season with a perfect record of five wins, Slot’s team have since lost nine of their last 12 in all competitions. The latest of which was a 1-4 home UEFA Champions League defeat to PSV Eindhoven, a result which made it three losses and three goals conceded in three games in a row.

Liverpool currently sits in 12th place in the Premier League, below both Everton and Manchester United, with six wins and six losses from the opening 12 games.

Despite impressively winning the title in his first season, Slot is under heavy pressure to keep his post in Merseyside, but he needs to change things up in order to save both himself and his team - here is what we think could change the fortunes of the Reds before it’s too late.

A Change In System

Since taking over from Jurgen Klopp following the German’s end to his Liverpool reign at the end of the 2023/24 season, Slot has kept a similar overall system to what was so loved and successful at Anfield.

Despite a clear switch to a more patient possession style, the formation has stayed the same. With Liverpool mainly adopting a 4-3-3 setup, with one sitting midfielder with two more advanced, with a back four including two attacking wing-backs and a traditional standard front three of two wingers and a central forward.

However, it’s clear that the signings brought in by Liverpool don’t quite fit into this current setup. Left-back Millos Kerkez, signed for £40 million from AFC Bournemouth, has struggled to live up to last seasons form on the south coast, whilst £100 million+ additions Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak have also both failed to make the expected impact so far.

Both Wirtz and Isak are undoubtedly some of the best talents in European football, and that kind of ability does not simply vanish over the case of a few months - it's clear that the main priority for Slot is to get the best out of these players, and a switch in formation could offer that.

A switch to a 4-4-2 diamond shape could offer the chance for both Kerkez and fellow wing-back signing Jeremie Frimpong to be the flying style wing-backs they were at their previous clubs up and down the flanks, whilst a switch to a two-striker formation would also allow Isak and fellow big money striker signing Hugo Ekitike to start together.

The Flexibility Of The 442 Diamond Formation pic.twitter.com/VJe0VLtrRv

— Maximus VanEaton (@soccer_made_eas) November 19, 2025

Wirtz as the central attacking midfielder at the tip of the diamond will give the German freedom to roam and create in the areas of the pitch he is most effective, whilst Alexis Mac Allistar, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch sitting deeper would complete a well-balanced midfield.

Of course, this shape would negate the usage of Slot's favourite son, Cody Gakpo, as well as the iconic figure that is Mohamed Salah. However, Slot would be showing a necessary bravery in dropping the Egyptian in particular as the legendary winger's performances this season have been hugely below-par.

Three at the back?

If Slot wants to change things further, another option would be to change to a formation including three centre-backs.

Liverpool’s defence has been poor so far this campaign, with Frenchman Ibrahima Konate coming under heavy criticism for his performances, but offering more protection by having another centre back join him and Van Dijk could improve things at the back.

pic.twitter.com/zWbKT22xj7

— Ibrahima Konate (@IbrahimaKonate_) November 27, 2025

However, Liverpool’s defensive depth is not strong, as the only other recognised senior centre-back available to Slot right now is Joe Gomez, so more cover would need to be bought in January if this switch was too take place.

The change would again help the struggling Kerkez, pushing the Hungarian into a more advanced wing-back role, and Frimpong on the right-hand-side would likely thrive in a system that worked so well for the Dutchman at Bayer Leverkusen.

352 Formation: 433 In Disguise pic.twitter.com/sLq630S9bb

— Maximus VanEaton (@soccer_made_eas) October 12, 2025

Either a 3-5-2 or a 3-4-2-1 could work, depending on player availability and whether Slot would like to keep the likes of Mohamed Salah in his starting lineup.

Dropping A Legend?

Mohammed Salah has written himself into the all-time greats during his time in Liverpool, having scored 250 goals in 419 appearances for the club.

However, since signing a new contract at the end of the previous season, where he scored 29 goals in Liverpool’s title winning season, the Egyptian has struggled for form this term.

The winger has scored five goals and got three assists in all competitions. And whilst they may not read as terrible numbers, the performance levels of Salah have dropped dramatically compared to previous seasons, often struggling to properly effect matches and easily surrendering possession.

Jamie Carragher:

“Mo Salah’s leg is gone”pic.twitter.com/EbqXBB5FIj

— Living Liverpool (@Livin_Liverpool) November 27, 2025

On the other flank, Cody Gakpo has also has also come under strong criticism from fans and analysts. The Dutchman has only scored four goals throughout the season and, just like Salah, could be set for a spell on the bench as Slot looks to freshen up the attack in search for more goals.

Despite being a centre forward by trade, Hugo Ekitike’s pace and technical ability could mean the Frenchman could offer something from the left wing, whilst Italian winger Federico Chiesa has done well off the bench for Liverpool this campaign and many Reds fans have been calling for the former Juventus man to be trusted with more minutes from the start.

I feel so sorry for Federico Chiesa. Gives his all, contributes 90% of the time he plays and is completely shut out with Mickey Mouse minutes. For those who will complain, how can it get any worse pic.twitter.com/SEIYN9rnxT

— Sarib 🚶🏻‍♂️ (@saribk01) November 26, 2025

Another option for Slot could be to put faith in youth - 17 year-old Rio Ngumoha has often starred when given a chance in the Liverpool first team and whilst it’s clear that someone that young needs to be carefully managed, the winger would offer the energy and directness down the wings that Salah and Gakpo often haven’t so far this season.

With Salah now 33-years-old, it’s no surprise the winger may have lost a burst of pace and agility. It would be a bold decision to drop Salah considering his legacy over the last eight years as a Liverpool player, but it’s perhaps a risk that Slot needs to take as his position as Liverpool manager becomes increasingly under threat.