So Liverpool managed to stop the rot with a win against Aston Villa, though it was a result aided by some inadequate passing out from the back from the Villans. Mohamed Salah was the beneficiary, scoring a desperately needed tap-in.
It signalled a reversion to what had worked so well for the Reds last season. Liverpool have had to rest some players, and there have been injuries too, but when a win was absolutely necessary, back came Salah as well as the Ryan Gravenberch, Cody Gakpo, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister core.
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It is not just about quality of the players – personalities are vital at times like these. Eventually Arne Slot has to revamp the group but he now understands this has to be done in a more considered way.
The most fitting case in point is Andy Robertson. The Scot was always going to have a battle with the younger Milos Kerkez who was brought in as his replacement for £40m. The problem is that during the recent run of four league defeats, Arne ignored his loyal left-back Robertson even though he was clearly needed by the team. New isn’t always better.
To Slot’s credit he did eventually step away from those convictions, if maybe a little grudgingly, and brought Robertson back for the Villa game. Revolution not evolution may well be what Slot wanted this season but that is dangerous.
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Overlooking those who got you to the top in the first place doesn’t always go down well, especially with his fellow workers who like and respect him.
We all make mistakes, Slot may have rectified his biggest one regarding the pace of change.
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