Liverpool head coach Slot decided to start with record signing Alexander Isak as he tried to fire up his struggling side and finally get the striker’s Anfield career going.
Instead, Isak became symbolic of a display which must rank as one of the most limp seen at Anfield in recent years, often conducted in periods of silence as disbelieving Liverpool fans watched the champions crumble once more.
Isak barely touched the ball, never posed any threat, and was actually fortunate to stay on for 67 minutes before he was finally replaced by Federico Chiesa.
He was not, however, the only guilty party on an afternoon when only Mohamed Salah showed any threat while those around him sunk without trace.
The drop in levels from last season, when Liverpool strolled to the title, is beyond alarming for Slot, who has been out of answers to solve their many problems. To suggest they can retain that crown now is a far-distant dream.
Even his substitutions carried the whiff of desperation, striker Hugo Ekitike being introduced after 54 minutes for defender Ibrahima Konate.
Liverpool’s fans grumbled but did not turn on their team. It was not only this defeat, though, but the appalling manner of it that will increase pressure on Slot to work out how to get this misfiring, but expensively assembled, team at least showing something of its real form.
