Slot’s Moment of Truth: Axe the Untouchables and Reboot Liverpool vs Frankfurt
Liverpool have stumbled from fast starters to faltering finishers, and with Eintracht Frankfurt on the Champions League horizon, Arne Slot has reached the point where sentiment must give way to selection. Early-season wins were papering over cracks – late goals flattering performances that lacked control. Now, on a run of four straight defeats, the issues are laid bare. The solution? Make the big calls on the big names.
Drop the Untouchables – and Mean It
This is the moment for Slot to prove he’s the boss, not the babysitter: Salah, Isak and Kerkez should make way. It’s not punishment for punishment’s sake; it’s about rebalancing a side that’s lost its edge and its clarity. Liverpool have been funneling play down the left and finding little end product on the right, where the spark has too often gone missing.
Salah: From Inevitable to Invisible
Mohamed Salah’s gift is that he can do nothing for 89 minutes and then win you a match in the 90th. Right now, he’s doing the first bit without the second. When the ball finally reaches him – and it hasn’t reached him nearly enough – the cutting edge isn’t there. Slot can’t wait for form to magically return; he has to force it. Jeremie Frimpong is a live-wire option on that flank, offering raw pace and directness, and his cameo against Manchester United showed he can hurt teams higher up the pitch. If Liverpool insist on quick transitions and width, putting a pure speed merchant out there makes sense.
Isak Needs a Breather – Let Ekitike Lead
Through the middle, Alexander Isak hasn’t hit his straps in a Liverpool shirt. No shame in that – strikers live off rhythm – but the team can’t be held hostage by a dry spell. Hugo Ekitike was recruited for moments like this and, before Isak’s run, looked sharp and purposeful. His movement across the line could reconnect Liverpool’s midfield to the front, and his willingness to run channels would stretch Frankfurt’s backline. Slot talked about competition for places; here’s the perfect time to show he means it.
Kerkez or Robertson? The Call Picks Itself
Milos Kerkez has started every league game, but the form hasn’t matched the promise – certainly not the levels he showed at Bournemouth. Andy Robertson is waiting, fit, and snarling for minutes. You know what Robertson brings: leadership, tempo, and that trademark underlap-overlap variety that ignites the left side. If Liverpool want structure and thrust, Robertson’s experience should get the nod.
A Statement That Could Re-energise the Dressing Room
In years gone by, Liverpool were reluctant to sit their stars. Different era, different squad. After an expensive window, there’s depth to use and a standard to uphold. Dropping multiple names before Frankfurt would send the clearest message yet that places are earned, not gifted. Between Salah, Isak and Kerkez, the trio reportedly command around £755,000 a week at Anfield (per Capology) – the performances must match the paycheques.
Tactics, Tone and the Test Ahead
Frankfurt will expect a wounded giant; Slot must give them an angry one. That means shoring up transitions, restoring intensity in the first line of the press, and adding legs in wide areas. Ekitike to pin and spin. Robertson to drive the flank. Frimpong to stretch and scare. And Salah, Isak, Kerkez? A short spell out to reset – not exile, just accountability.
Liverpool supporters won’t grumble at ruthless choices if they yield control and chances. They’ve seen enough of late rallies and paper-thin margins. Deliver a 90-minute performance, not a 90-second rescue act.
And if you fancy weighing up form and momentum ahead of European nights, check out the latest markets on the best betting sites – but remember, Slot’s selection swing could change the narrative in a hurry.
It’s simple, really: make the statement now, and the squad will follow. Wait any longer, and the season starts managing you.
