Man United smell blood as Reds search for lost rhythm

IT’S been a long time since Liverpool fans approached a home clash with Manchester United feeling this uneasy, with Arne Slot facing the first real test of his fledgling Anfield reign.

- ROWAN CALLAGHAN

Three straight defeats across all competitions have stripped away the early-season optimism from a mammoth spending spree that brought some of the world’s most desirable football talent to the champions.

Suddenly, there are cracks all over the show - some of Slot’s own making, it must be said - with some of the stalwarts of last season’s title-winning campaign looking jaded, while one of the new puzzle pieces is still trying hard to prove his worth.

There is also a growing recognition of the role that Trent Alexander-Arnold played in Liverpool's attacking blueprint, with Mo Salah becalmed down the right without Trent’s passing wizardry and unusually wasteful, as criticism of the ‘Egyptian King’ mounts.

Salah is not alone, though, with Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo also singled out for below-par performances that are a far cry from last season's heroics.

Even Ryan Gravenberch has been all too easily bypassed as the midfield anchor.