Rio Ferdinand has criticised Liverpool boss Arne Slot for making what he described as “bad excuses” over the club’s recent poor form, insisting it is the manager’s responsibility to adapt rather than complain about opponents’ tactics.
Slot recently admitted that Liverpool struggle against teams who play direct, aerial football and conceded that his side have been losing too many physical duels and second balls.
The comments followed a dismal run of four consecutive Premier League defeats that has seen the team slide from first place to seventh, seven points behind leaders Arsenal.
Speaking on his Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel, the former Manchester United defender questioned the Liverpool manager’s reasoning.
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“You want managers to be open and speak, but if you’re a Liverpool fan, you’re thinking, ‘Why is he talking like this?’” Ferdinand said.
“The excuse about teams playing long balls against them - there are so many ways to play football. If you’re going to win games and win the league, who cares how you do it?”
He added that Liverpool’s players should be capable of coping with all styles of play.
Rio Ferdinand has criticised Liverpool boss Arne Slot for making what he described as “bad excuses” over the club’s recent poor form, insisting it is the manager’s responsibility to adapt rather than complain about opponents’ tactics
|PA
“It’s a bad excuse when you say teams are playing differently - you should be able to deal with it,” he added.
“You’ve got some of the best players in the world: [Virgil] Van Dijk and [Ibrahima] Konaté, two top centre-backs, and full-backs that cost a fortune.
“You should be able to deal with that, or adapt and find a way to deal with it. Win the first ball, get your midfielders close for the second ball. That’s one of the biggest things in the Premier League, you’ve got to adapt.”
Liverpool have lost four Premier League matches on the bounce | GETTY/GBNEWSLATEST SPORT NEWS
Liverpool are aiming to win a 21st Premier League title this season
| GBNEWS/GETTY/PA
Liverpool boss Arne Slot is under pressure following his side's poor defeat away at Brentford | REUTERSFerdinand said that Slot’s public comments risked exposing Liverpool’s tactical weaknesses, with teams currently sensing blood.
“Right now, four defeats in a row and he’s saying they can’t adapt, so they’ve got to find a way,” he said.
Liverpool appeared to have rediscovered form after a 5–1 Champions League win over Eintracht Frankfurt last week, but a 3–2 loss at Brentford quickly reignited concerns.
Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk have been well off the pace for Liverpool this season amid their poor form under Arne Slot
| GETTYAfter the game, Slot acknowledged that rival clubs have found an effective approach against his side.
“Teams have a certain playing style against us, which is a very good strategy to play against us,” he said.
“And we have not found an answer yet. Going 1–0 down after five minutes does not help. Teams know which strategy to play against us.”
Slot had made similar remarks following the Frankfurt match, stating that his team struggled to press effectively because “the ball wasn’t on the ground—it was through the air.”
Ferdinand also pointed to Liverpool’s transfer business as a factor behind their slump. The sale of Luis Díaz to Bayern Munich for £65.5million, he said, has disrupted the balance of the team.
“Díaz leaving, I don’t think that’s good business,” he commented. “He’s a top player. Have they replaced him with anything better? Is Gakpo better? I’d say no chance.”
Liverpool will be hoping to bounce back when they face Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup on Wednesday night (8.45pm).
However, the Reds have already lost to the same opponents this season.
Furthermore, Palace will go into the clash seeking a return to winning ways themselves - having lost 1-0 to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.