Liverpool have another “big issue” ahead of West Ham clash

Liverpool are in unprecedented territory at the moment and there are no current signs of things getting better for Arne Slot.

The Reds returned to Champions League action last night when they hosted PSV Eindhoven under the lights at Anfield.

It was an opportunity for Slot to get back on track after a string of defeats in the Premier League, but the outcome was all too familiar to what supporters have seen repeatedly so far this season.

Virgil van Dijk gave away a penalty after a handball in the box, which gave PSV a head start in the opening minutes, however an equaliser from Dominik Szoboszlai gave the Anfield faithful hope.

Unfortunately, the same issues presented themselves as the game progressed and Liverpool ended up suffering a humiliating 4-1 defeat.

The pressure has never been so severe for Slot, and the club finds itself in uncharted waters with the Premier League-winning manager.

The Merseyside giants have never sacked a manager after winning a domestic title, and they will be getting desperate for the Dutchman to find the answers before they have to make difficult decisions about his future.

There are several issues that have caused unrest at Anfield, and the players on the pitch also bear a level of responsibility and blame for the current situation.

Beyond the lacklustre performances, Liverpool are without several key players through injury and that is playing a part in the lack of depth available from the bench.

The latest concern is new striker Hugo Ekitike, who has been one of the better summer signings since his arrival, but he needed to be hooked early in the second half due to a back problem.

Speaking in his pre-match conference ahead of the Premier League clash with West Ham United on Sunday afternoon, Slot gave an update on Ekitike’s injury.

The Liverpool boss told the media:

“They don’t expect that it has to be a big issue, but the games come fast so let’s see for the weekend.

“But it shouldn’t have to be a big issue.”

While Slot’s update was relatively vague on the exact date that Ekitike will be back, it is a promising sign that there is no long-term damage to the France international.

The attacking threat has massively suffered with Mohamed Salah finding it difficult to get back to his usual goal-scoring form – an area of the pitch that will be further depleted when the Egyptian winger heads to AFCON in the coming weeks.

Indeed, Alexander Isak is fit and ready to play in the striker role, so there is no immediate pressure for Ekitike to return on Sunday.

Liverpool will face West Ham, Sunderland and Leeds United in the space of a week.

Slot will be hopeful that Ekitike will be able to make an appearance at some point over that period, and may find it easier to manage his rest by not including him this weekend.

With all considered, there are far more pressing issues for the Reds at present and getting results will be the only thing on the minds of supporters.

There is still time to stop the rot, but the room for error is shrinking fast, Slot doesn’t need perfection; he needs momentum and points, so the pressure is immense.

How Liverpool respond in the coming week could impact the immediate and long-term future of the club.

Rebekka Arnold is an experienced writer with a strong background in digital media, PR and football journalism.

Since 2021, Rebekka has written opinion pieces and match reaction content for Football Fancast, part of the Snack Media network, building on her growing presence in the football community through viral Twitter content and podcasting.

Now at Transfer Tavern, Rebekka brings her sharp eye for analysis and deep passion for the game to deliver engaging football opinion and breaking transfer news content.