Former Arsenal playmaker Paul Merson believes Slot made a mistake by publicly admitting that Liverpool are “still figuring out” how to deal with teams who sit deep and rely on long balls. According to Merson, such honesty sends the wrong message and could embolden opponents.
> “You never tell the whole league what you can’t handle,” he warned on Sky Sports. “Now every side will target those weaknesses.”
Slot, speaking after the defeat at the Gtech Community Stadium, confessed that his players struggled against Brentford’s direct approach. The Bees delivered more than sixty long passes and capitalised on Liverpool’s defensive uncertainty to hand the Dutch coach a fourth straight Premier League loss.
Despite scoring twice, the Reds again failed to keep things tight at the back — a problem Slot admitted has become a trend.
> “We concede too many goals,” he said. “It’s not just about defenders; it’s the whole team.”
Merson was unimpressed. He suggested Liverpool’s recent transfer decisions — particularly the arrival of Florian Wirtz for over £100 million and the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold — may already be backfiring.
> “They brought in Wirtz to break down low blocks, but he’s still adapting. Without Trent, they’ve lost one of the key players who could unlock those defences,” Merson argued.
He added that newcomers like Wirtz might find the Premier League’s physical, unpredictable nature difficult to adjust to.
> “You don’t see this kind of chaos in Germany or Spain. Here, even mid-table teams can score three against title contenders.”
The pundit further warned that Slot’s comments about struggling with long balls will only invite more aerial bombardments from rivals.
> “Teams will now look to hit it long and hurt them that way,” he said. “Liverpool must find answers fast.”
With Virgil van Dijk still regarded as one of the world’s finest defenders, many fans are baffled by the team’s defensive lapses and tactical confusion. Merson concluded that Liverpool’s next fixtures will test whether Slot can steady the ship before the season slips away.
> “The next few weeks will tell us everything,” he said. “Liverpool know exactly what’s coming.”
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