Arne Slot and Reuben Amorim under scrutiny in Liverpool-Manchester United showdown

By Administrator

Published on 10/19/2025 08:00

Sports

Arne Slot’s Liverpool are just one point behind rivals Arsenal at the top of the English Premier League and with plenty of time to right the ship

LIVERPOOL — Liverpool manager Arne Slot has to find solutions after three consecutive defeats for the Premier League champions, but Sunday’s meeting with Manchester United is arguably even more important for Ruben Amorim.

AFP Sport looks at the challenge that faces both managers ahead of the hotly anticipated clash between English football’s two most successful clubs.

Slot’s first crisis

The Dutchman made the unenviable task of succeeding Jurgen Klopp look easy last season as Liverpool won the league with four games to spare, equalling United’s record of 20 English top-flight titles.

Only once in Slot’s debut campaign did Liverpool suffer back-to-back defeats and that came in exiting the Champions League and losing the League Cup final in March as a gruelling winter schedule took its toll.

The Reds were determined to build from a position of strength, ploughing a Premier League record of nearly £450 million (US$604 million) into new signings in the transfer window.

Twice Liverpool smashed their own record transfer record for Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz.

Yet neither has yet scored a Premier League goal for the Reds and the huge squad overhaul has disrupted last season’s well-oiled machine.

Mohamed Salah has looked a shadow of his former self and even attracted criticism for his work rate off the ball in the build-up to Chelsea’s late winner two weeks ago.

Despite winning their opening seven games of the season in all competitions, the warning signs were there for Slot.

Ragged performances were papered over by a series of late winners until Liverpool’s luck ran out in narrow defeats to Crystal Palace, Galatasaray and Chelsea.

Slot’s men are just one point behind title rivals Arsenal at the top of the Premier League and with plenty of time to right the ship.

Extending United’s winless streak at Anfield beyond a decade could provide the perfect pick-me-up for the champions.

But anything other than victory would raise serious questions over Slot’s ability to get the best out of his new group of supremely talented individuals.