Under Arne Slot, Liverpool’s title defense is quickly falling apart. The reigning champions now sit seventh in the Premier League, already seven points off the top, and suffering their fourth straight domestic defeat — their worst run since January 2021.
In just nine league games, the Reds have already conceded 14 goals, a huge contrast to last season’s defensive solidity. Their backline, once Liverpool’s biggest strength, has now become their biggest problem.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer didn’t mince his words as he analyzed Liverpool’s defensive collapse.
> “You can talk about their attack or midfield all you like,” Shearer said, “but defensively… oh my word. The full-backs have taken a lot of criticism, but the two centre-halves — Van Dijk and Konaté — have been awful. They were shocking again against Brentford. Both of them were all over the place.”
The comments come amid reports that Ibrahima Konaté could be on his way out of Anfield. According to sources, the 26-year-old has turned down a new contract offer, and with his current deal expiring at the end of the season, his future on Merseyside is now hanging by a thread.
Negotiations over an extension have reportedly stalled, and many inside the club believe the French defender may leave in the summer transfer window.
With Virgil van Dijk’s leadership under question and Konaté’s future uncertain, Arne Slot faces a massive task to steady Liverpool’s defense and reignite their title ambitions before the season slips away.
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