Liverpool find themselves in an uncomfortable position after losing six of their last seven games in all competitions a run that has raised early questions over Arne Slot’s tenure.
Yet former Red Joe Cole believes the Dutchman will be given time to halt the slide and expects him to do exactly that.
The Reds’ campaign began with promise, seven straight victories across August and September suggesting a smooth transition under Slot.
But those results, in hindsight, disguised deeper issues. Liverpool often required late goals to secure points and were far from convincing across those early weeks.
The cracks widened at the end of September with a damaging defeat at Crystal Palace, which has since proven the catalyst for a severe dip in form. Losses to Galatasaray, Chelsea, Manchester United, Brentford and Palace again have followed, with only a single win against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League in a seven-game stretch.
Despite the concerning trend, Cole believes Liverpool will maintain faith in their manager.
“Liverpool has a tradition of holding on to their managers, they always have,” Cole told Paddy Power. “You know, they’re primarily a football club and not a business, which is what I love about Liverpool.
They do things right, so I think Arne Slot will get at least till Christmas. And I think he’ll turn it around. He’ll consolidate, there’ll be players coming back from injuries.”
Liverpool’s defensive fragility has been one of the defining themes of their poor run. The team has not kept a clean sheet since September 14, conceding in every game since, and has managed just two clean sheets in 15 matches this season.
Slot’s backline has seen significant change from last term. Trent Alexander-Arnold departed in the summer, while Andy Robertson has lost his place to new signing Milos Kerkez. Cole believes that a return to the tried and trusted could help bring stability.
“If I’m Arne Slot, I’d go Andy Robertson in at left-back,” Cole said. “Conor Bradley at right-back, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté, and I’d say ‘listen, I’m not changing you’.
I’d say to Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, ‘just relax, you’re coming into Liverpool Football Club, it’s not going well.’
And I would try and get that base of the team sorted and go from there.”
Cole’s words echo what many around Anfield have begun to feel that a reset, both tactically and mentally, is needed to restore order after a turbulent month. With injuries easing and several senior figures close to returning, Slot’s challenge now is to translate belief into results.
Liverpool face a defining run of fixtures before Christmas. Whether Slot can steady the ship will determine not only the direction of the season, but how firmly the club’s modern ethos of patience holds in testing times.
