Premier League

Liverpool’s Big Spending Puts Pressure On Slot

Arne Slot arrived at Liverpool last summer without fanfare into an atmosphere of uncertainty following his iconic predecessor Jurgen Klopp’s shock decision to leave Anfield.

The 46-year-old Dutch coach built a fine reputation with successes at Feyenoord, but was an unknown quantity to many Liverpool supporters and untested in the Premier League.

Slot’s understated persona was in sharp contrast to the charismatic Klopp, whose departure shaped expectations to the extent that a top-four finish and continued Champions League football was the widely accepted target for Liverpool’s fanbase.

The pressure of being Liverpool manager is ever-present – but early expectation management in the new era meant levels were adjusted accordingly.

Fast forward a remarkable 12 months and Slot’s Liverpool start the new campaign as Premier League champions, strolling to the title with a 10-point margin and four games to spare, barely threatened from Christmas onwards.

What should have been a summer of celebration has been lived under the shadow of the tragic death of much-loved forward Diogo Jota, killed in a car crash, and the incident in which many Liverpool fans were injured at the title parade.

In the purely sporting context, however, the landscape has shifted dramatically for the club – and with it comes increasing pressure and scrutiny on Slot to deliver more success.

After barely dipping into his spending pot last summer, Slot now has an array of new talent at his disposal following a remarkable summer spending spree that could yet comfortably top £300m – making the Reds firm favourites to retain their crown.

Liverpool have signed Florian Wirtz, one of Europe’s hottest properties, in a £116m deal from Bayer Leverkusen, a new pair of full-backs in Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong for a combined £70m from Bayer Leverkusen and Bournemouth respectively, then added Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike in a deal that could be worth £70m.

Add to this the possibility that Crystal Palace captain and defensive lynchpin Marc Guehi could sign for £35m is growing. They have also secured a £26m move for 18-year-old centre-back Giovanni Leoni from Parma.

Liverpool may yet add Newcastle United’s £150m-rated rebel striker Alexander Isak to their ranks, which effectively means Slot cannot afford to fail to deliver a trophy and a challenge for the biggest prizes – namely another title and the Champions League.

Can cool Slot handle the heat?

Slot will know better than anyone that he, as well as his expensively reassembled side, will be viewed through a completely different prism this season.

Liverpool are now the hunted rather than the hunters. A campaign without a trophy would be regarded as failure, while rivals Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City in particular, have also strengthened heavily to ensure there is no repeat of last season’s one-team title race.

Slot has shown a cool head from day one, barely losing his composure, apart from at the conclusion of an incendiary 2-2 Merseyside derby draw at Goodison Park in February, when he was one of four sent off after the final whistle.

Former Liverpool and England midfielder Danny Murphy is confident Slot can deal with the added pressure, telling BBC Sport: “I don’t see Slot being the kind of manager who gets too preoccupied with pressure. He looks very calm. He seems to be very articulate and knows how to handle different situations.”

He added: “Slot’s temperament throughout last season was pretty exquisite. There were not too many times where he seemed rattled.

“I know you could say it is easier to be calm and articulate when you are winning games, but even when they lost to Paris St-Germain in the Champions League, or when they lost to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final, he still remained really calm and controlled.

“He was good with his words, said the right things. There was still a real clear focus from him, so I don’t see him being too affected by the outside noise. He has shown he can cope with that.

“Expectation has changed, no doubt, at Liverpool there is always a certain amount of expectation anyway, but now he has won the league and spent most of the season playing phenomenal football.

“That high bar is set by Slot now, and an expectation to a degree, but there is also a reality around a group of new players at any time.

“Whether you have just won the league or have finished sixth, there is still going to be an adaptation period where those players need to grow into their roles and become comfortable in those positions.”

Is Slot’s Liverpool now a team in transition?

Slot has been at pains to point out that Liverpool’s incomings have been accompanied by departures, with Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving for Real Madrid on a free transfer, forwards Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez sold to Bayern Munich and Al-Hilal respectively, while defender Jarell Quansah made the journey in the opposition direction to Wirtz and Frimpong to join Bayer Leverkusen.

It is an unusual amount of churn for champions, showing in a disjointed performance in the Community Shield loss to Crystal Palace, which saw Frimpong, Kerkez, Wirtz and Ekitike start in a performance suggesting a work in progress, lacking last season’s calm and cohesion.

The absence of midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, suspended for Friday’s opener at home to Bournemouth, hit hard as Liverpool looked a team of too many attacking parts without a solid midfield base, exposed too often.

Slot must find a way to fit Wirtz – so effective across the line of attacking positions as well as from deeper positions – into his plans. How will this impact on the smooth-running midfield of last season, where Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister were a well-oiled machine?

Murphy said: “I think Liverpool fans, and probably Slot himself, will be aware that there might be some bumps in the road because you are talking about really young players coming in into an environment they have never been used to, with that expectation of the Liverpool public, with that magnifying glass on every performance.

“That is something those players won’t have had before. No disrespect, but at Leverkusen or Frankfurt it is not quite the same pressure, but the Liverpool fans will know that and will understand that will be new for some of the players.

“Liverpool started last season really well. This was mainly obviously to do with the quality of players they had, but also there wasn’t any integration of new players. They all knew each other.

“It is different this time. There is also the pressure of being at a club where you are expected to win every week. We are in this kind of grey area where we are waiting to see who fits in smoothly, who adapts the most quickly, who gains momentum the quickest.”

Liverpool fans trust Slot to oversee change

Any doubts about Slot’s ability to succeed a figure as beloved as Klopp were swept away in the euphoria of the club’s 20th title, where his calm command and tactical shrewdness kept the best of his predecessor’s “Heavy Metal” football while making Liverpool more controlled, less likely to fall victims to self-created chaos.

Slot’s status on The Kop means he had earned their trust to manage the process.

Murphy said: “Liverpool fans probably didn’t expect what happened last season. They are aware there has been a turnaround of quite a few players, so if the season doesn’t start brilliantly smoothly, with them winning every game, they will still stay right behind Slot because they know what he is capable of. He has credit in the bank. He hardly put a foot wrong in his first season.”

BBC.com

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Arne Slot Confirms Mohamed Salah Is ‘Always In My Mind’ Amid Liverpool Absence

Mohamed Salah sitting on Liverpool bench during Premier League match

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has addressed the speculation surrounding Mohamed Salah, admitting that the Egypt forward is “always in my mind” despite being left out of the last two starting line-ups.

Salah, 33, has had a slow start to the Premier League season, scoring just four goals, and has played only 45 minutes across the last two games. The forward’s omission from the starting XI has sparked talk of a potential Saudi Pro League move, though Salah recently signed a two-year contract extension with Liverpool in April.

Slot Explains Salah Situation

“I think for every player in my mind can start and Mo is an exceptional player for us,” Slot said. “He is always in my mind to either start or to come off the bench.”

Salah played a starring role last season, scoring 29 goals as Liverpool lifted the Premier League in Slot’s first campaign. However, he was an unused substitute in Liverpool’s 2-1 win at West Ham and again came off the bench in the 1-1 draw at home to Sunderland.

Slot acknowledged the chatter around Salah’s absence, saying:

“The chatter, yes because he deserves that, he has been so influential for me and six or seven years. It’s completely normal people talk about it when he isn’t playing.”

Van Dijk Weighs In

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk also commented, highlighting that no player at the club has “unlimited credit”:

“He is still a fantastic player and we still have to remember there is a reason why he has been so successful at the club and we have to respect that. I need him around as one of the leaders. He’s disappointed but that’s absolutely normal. It’s always been the case that no one is undroppable.”

This statement underscores the high standards at Liverpool, even for one of their most prolific stars.

Liverpool’s Current Form

The Reds are currently ninth in the Premier League, 11 points behind leaders Arsenal, having won just two of their nine league games. Salah’s presence will be crucial as Liverpool look to regain momentum, with their next game set against Leeds United.

While fans debate Salah’s place in the squad, both Slot and Van Dijk emphasize that he remains central to Liverpool’s ambitions, both on the pitch and in the dressing room.

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Premier League

‘Frustrated And Angry’ – Ruben Amorim Lets Rip At Man Utd After Throwing Away Lead Against West Ham

'I'm Frustrated' - Amorim Laments As Man Utd Lose Again

Manchester United had a golden opportunity to climb into the Premier League’s top five — but instead, they left Old Trafford with more frustration, more questions, and a visibly angry Ruben Amorim.

Diogo Dalot’s second-half strike should have been the start of a comfortable win. Instead, it became another night where United looked unsure, unfocused, and unable to kill off an opponent fighting for survival.

And Amorim?
He did not hide his feelings one bit.

United Drop Points… Again

United were coming off a shock defeat to 10-man Everton, and this was supposed to be the perfect response. Facing 18th-placed West Ham — a team with just one away win all season — many expected a bounce-back.

But things didn’t go as planned.

The Red Devils struggled to create clear chances, Bruno Fernandes couldn’t pull the strings, and 19-year-old Ayden Heaven looked shaky in his first Premier League start before being taken off at half-time.

West Ham stayed patient, stayed organised, and took their chance when it came.
Soungoutou Magassa pounced late in the game, smashing home from a corner to make it 1-1.

Old Trafford went silent.
Amorim, however, did not.

Amorim: “We Should Have Closed The Game Out”

The United manager could not hide his disappointment after the match.

“We lost control after the first goal,” he said. “We stopped winning second balls. We defended too far from our goal. We had the game under control and we didn’t win. That is frustrating and that is why I am angry.”

He went further on BBC Match of the Day:
“We should have closed the game with the ball. The game was there to win. We had our moments but we lost control. After the goal, we were sloppy. It’s really frustrating.”

For a manager who prides himself on structure, the collapse in control clearly hit a nerve.

The Heaven-Yoro Decision

Amorim raised eyebrows by starting Ayden Heaven and dropping Leny Yoro. But after Heaven collected an early yellow card and struggled against Callum Wilson, the manager had no choice but to make a switch.

“Of course it was the yellow card,” Amorim explained. “One more foul and it could be another yellow. We also needed him for set pieces. We have to be smarter.”

It was a risky gamble that didn’t pay off — but it wasn’t the main reason United failed to take all three points.

Dalot: “The Game Was Ours To Win”

Dalot, who scored United’s goal, echoed his manager’s frustration.

“We cannot get anxious after scoring,” he said. “We became sloppy with the ball. We knew West Ham would look for counters and set pieces, and it was more our fault than anything they did.”

United have now taken just two points from their last three Premier League games at Old Trafford — and the pressure continues to grow.

Sports Market International Verdict

This is the kind of match top-five teams win without stress. But instead, Manchester United once again handed the momentum back to a relegation-fighting opponent.

From missed chances to lack of control to late lapses, the problems are becoming predictable — and the excuses are becoming fewer.

If the Red Devils want to climb back into the elite category, these are the games they simply must win.

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Premier League

Man Utd Are Spiralling – And Only Have Themselves To Blame For Predictable WSL Struggles

Manchester United Women looking dejected during a WSL match

At the start of the season, everything looked like a fairytale for Manchester United Women. They were unbeaten in their first seven WSL games, they were in the Women’s Champions League proper for the first time ever, and momentum was firmly on their side.

Fast-forward a few weeks, and suddenly the Red Devils are battling to stop a worrying slide — with three defeats in four games knocking the confidence out of a team that once looked ready to challenge the very best.

But here’s the truth:
United’s struggles were predictable — and the club only has itself to blame.

A Bright Start Masked a Big Problem

That early-season high was impressive, no doubt. United were dealing with a crisis-level injury list, with 10 senior players unavailable before October. Marc Skinner often had only two senior outfield players on the bench, yet somehow managed to guide the team through Champions League qualifiers, secure three wins in the league phase, and remain unbeaten in the WSL.

It was admirable.
It was brave.
It was also unsustainable.

Depth? What Depth?

Their recent 3-0 demolition in the Manchester derby exposed the obvious: United simply do not have the squad depth to compete on two major fronts.

Even though City have injury concerns of their own, they still looked fresher, sharper and more prepared. The difference?
No Champions League schedule dragging them through two games a week.

It’s not just United suffering, either. Arsenal, another Champions League side, are facing similar challenges. The reality across Europe is clear:
Small squads struggle. Big squads survive. Elite squads thrive.

Barcelona can get away with using the same number of players as United because their starting XI is stacked with world-class talent. United? Not quite.

When You Can’t Train, You Can’t Improve

The problem goes beyond injuries and rotation.

As Skinner said earlier in the season:
“You can’t coach much.”

With games coming fast and recovery time eating into training sessions, there’s less time to fix tactical issues or build new patterns of play. Everything becomes reactive instead of proactive.

This isn’t noticeable when the team is winning — but the moment form dips, it becomes a mountain to climb.

United’s current rut isn’t caused by one bad performance.
It’s the result of weeks and months without the space needed to improve.

So, What Now For Man Utd Women?

The Red Devils are now seven points off the pace in the WSL and desperately need strong results in their final Champions League matches to advance.

Skinner will continue to demand more.
The players will continue to fight.
But unless United finally build a squad designed for both domestic and European battles, seasons like this will repeat themselves.

The spiral didn’t come from nowhere — it came from predictable, avoidable cracks that are now impossible to ignore.