Liverpool are currently facing a major crisis, and Paul Scholes believes he knows when the problems began.
The reigning Premier League champions secured their 20th title last season, but their title defence has been underwhelming. After 13 games this season, Arne Slot’s team finds itself in the bottom half of the table. A 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest at Anfield over the weekend marked Liverpool’s sixth loss in their last seven league matches and ninth loss in 11 games across all competitions, putting the manager under intense scrutiny.
Scholes Points to Last Season’s Ibiza Trip
Speaking on his podcast, The Good, The Bad and The Football, Manchester United legend Paul Scholes suggested that Liverpool’s decline started last season. He particularly criticized manager Arne Slot for a post-title celebration trip to Ibiza.
“I think this started towards the end of last season, do you remember when they won the league? The bad form started, they went away, went to Ibiza or something. Honestly, Arne Slot was DJing. DJing in Ibiza. But that’s before the season’s done. I think that’s disrespectful; I think it’s classless,” Scholes said.
High-Profile Signings Yet to Make an Impact
Liverpool invested heavily in the summer transfer window, breaking the British transfer record twice to bring in Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen and Alexander Isak from Newcastle United. However, neither player has made a significant impact so far.
Meanwhile, key players such as Mohamed Salah, Ibrahima Konate, and Alexis Mac Allister are struggling for form. New signing Jeremie Frimpong has battled injuries, and Milos Kerkez has found it difficult to adapt to Liverpool’s attacking style. These factors have left the Reds with an uphill battle to defend their crown.
Fan Reactions
Fans have had mixed reactions to Scholes’ comments. Some agree with him, noting that the Ibiza trip seemed unusual with four games still remaining in the previous season. Popular social media users expressed sentiments such as “he has a point,” while others stated that Scholes was “spot on” and suggested that Slot should be sacked.
Slot Faces Pressure to Make Changes
Liverpool’s success last season was largely built on Mohamed Salah’s exceptional form, but the team has struggled to provide support this season. Slot now faces the challenge of making significant adjustments to stabilize the team, even if it means dropping some high-profile players to restore balance and competitiveness.
With the season underway, all eyes will be on Arne Slot to see whether he can halt the slump and guide Liverpool back to winning ways
