Arne Slot’s shocking decision sees Liverpool drop more points against Chelsea

Liverpool fans woke up this morning still trying to understand how everything has collapsed in just seven days. Only a week ago Arne Slot’s men were flying high, five points clear at the top of the Premier League table, unbeaten, confident, and being spoken about as the side who might dominate English football again. Today the mood is completely different. The same Liverpool that looked untouchable now look broken, beaten, and confused after three straight defeats in one week. The latest one came against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, a match that has left supporters furious, pundits questioning the manager, and the Premier League title race wide open.

It was supposed to be a chance for Liverpool to bounce back after the shock losses to Galatasaray in Europe and Crystal Palace in the league. Instead, they fell apart once more. Chelsea, who came into the game with back-to-back defeats of their own, found belief and energy against a Liverpool team that looked tired and disorganized. Moises Caicedo’s thunderbolt gave the Blues an early lead, Cody Gakpo equalized to give the away fans some hope, but in the 95th minute it was the 18-year-old wonderkid Estevão who sealed the win for Chelsea with a calm finish at the far post. Liverpool, once masters of late drama, have suddenly become the victims of it.

But the real story from the game wasn’t just the late goal. It was the chaos that seemed to come from the Liverpool dugout. Arne Slot’s decisions were once again in the spotlight, and they were brutal. Ryan Gravenberch, one of the team’s best midfielders this season, was dragged out of his position and forced into defence. Virgil van Dijk looked uncomfortable and error-prone without a stable partner beside him. Konate was withdrawn early and Curtis Jones came on in midfield, but it left Liverpool looking unbalanced. Supporters watching the game could hardly believe what they were seeing.

On social media, the reactions were instant and furious. “This is all on Slot btw, terrible subs. Why did Endo come on? Why is Salah and Gakpo still on? Why is Gravenberch CB? Poor poor from Slot,” one fan wrote. Another added, “Onside cause Gravenberch isn’t a CB, Slot ffs.” Others went even harder: “Yeah we deserved to lose that…Slot has no idea what he’s doing with his formation and subs, playing everyone out of position!” For Liverpool supporters who are used to years of clear tactical plans and sharp decision-making under Jürgen Klopp, watching Slot scramble and experiment like this feels painful.

Gary Neville, on commentary, was quick to point out the issues too. He noticed Konate strolling with the ball, frustrating the crowd and even Slot himself before the defender was taken off. Neville said, “It was frustrating and annoying me to be honest. I think he was annoying Arne Slot as well.” The criticism wasn’t just about one player, though. It was about the whole team looking confused, lacking intensity, and playing as if the energy and belief that defined them has suddenly disappeared.

What makes the situation worse for Liverpool is how quickly things have unraveled. Only last weekend, they looked like a side who could go all season unbeaten. Florian Wirtz and Mohamed Salah were in fine form, the midfield was dominating opponents, and Slot’s methods seemed to be working perfectly. But the defeats to Galatasaray, Palace, and now Chelsea have completely changed the mood. It feels like the manager is trying to solve too many problems at once, and in the process he’s creating even more.

The decision to shift players out of their natural positions has been one of the biggest frustrations. Gravenberch at centre-back, Szoboszlai playing deep instead of attacking, Salah being taken off in key moments, and Endo coming on when the team needs creativity — these choices are leaving fans scratching their heads. As one supporter wrote: “Slot is just freestyling at this point, square pegs in round holes.” The Dutchman himself admitted after the Chelsea game that Konate had a quad issue and he didn’t want to risk it, which is why he made the early change. But for supporters, that explanation doesn’t hide the bigger problem: Liverpool looked lost even before Konate came off.

And what about Virgil van Dijk? The captain struggled badly at Stamford Bridge. He looked slower, his positioning was off, and without a strong partner he was exposed again and again. Chelsea’s attackers, especially Estevão, targeted Liverpool’s defence with confidence. It was a far cry from the dominant Van Dijk who once terrified strikers across Europe. For fans, seeing their leader struggle like this only adds to the fear that the team is not stable.

The statistics are just as worrying. Three defeats in a row, including two in the league, means Arsenal have overtaken Liverpool at the top of the table. The Gunners now lead by a point, and with Manchester City still in the race, Liverpool’s once-comfortable cushion has vanished. Slot’s men have gone from being favourites to looking fragile in a single week. The international break might bring some breathing space, but it also means the media and fans will spend the next two weeks tearing apart every decision and every mistake.

Chelsea fans, of course, celebrated wildly. After a tough run, beating Liverpool in stoppage time felt huge. Gary Neville summed it up on Sky Sports: “What celebrations here. Chelsea had back-to-back defeats before this game, but they were absolutely brilliant.” The contrast was painful. While Chelsea’s youngsters showed energy and belief, Liverpool looked like a team running on empty.

The wider football world is now asking questions. Did Liverpool move too quickly from Klopp to Slot without giving the squad enough changes? Is the team too reliant on a few players like Salah, Wirtz, and Gravenberch? Are the £100m signings being used properly, or are they just being thrown into roles that don’t suit them?

The timing couldn’t be worse. After the break, Liverpool face Manchester United in one of the biggest games of the season. United themselves have had their problems, but matches between the two clubs are never simple. With Liverpool already under pressure, a poor result at Old Trafford could make this crisis even bigger.

For now, fans are left with anger and confusion. They want answers. They want to know why a team that was playing so well has suddenly collapsed. They want to understand why their manager, who was supposed to bring fresh ideas, is making decisions that look desperate. Most of all, they want to feel hope again.

Football is a cruel game. A week ago, Liverpool supporters were dreaming of another title. Today, they are counting the mistakes, fearing the next defeat, and wondering if the season has already taken a turn that they cannot recover from. For Arne Slot, the pressure has arrived early and it is heavy. One more mistake, one more defeat, and the voices calling this a crisis will only get louder.

The story of Liverpool’s week is simple but dramatic: from the top of the mountain to the edge of collapse in just seven days. Now the question is whether Slot and his players can climb back up, or if they will keep falling further down. The answers will come after the international break, but for now the silence of defeat hangs heavy over Anfield.