The Hodgson comparison that casts Arne Slot in an uneasy light
Liverpool’s recent form has been accompanied by a statistic that has reignited debate around Arne Slot. Even with the Reds sitting fourth in the Premier League and stretching their unbeaten run to 12 games, the atmosphere at Anfield soured again after the 1–1 draw with Burnley.
Opta’s Football Data Editor, Michael Reid, shared a stark figure: Liverpool have taken just five wins and 21 points from their last 17 league matches – an average of 1.24 points per game. He then added a comparison that raised eyebrows: Roy Hodgson averaged 1.25 points per game during his spell at the club.
On the surface, it is an uncomfortable parallel, but numbers alone do not tell the full story.
Against Burnley, Liverpool controlled the game, had 32 shots, posted an xG of 2.95 and forced eight saves from Martin Dubravka. Florian Wirtz once again provided a flash of brilliance, while Dominik Szoboszlai hitting the bar from the penalty spot could have completely changed the narrative.
From a tactical standpoint, Slot could hardly have demanded more in terms of chance creation. Still, frustration spilled over, with boos at full-time – a rare sound at Anfield even in tough spells.
Lewis Steele summed up the mood by noting that Liverpool are “17 points worse off than this time last season,” adding that Slot’s football “has been hard to watch for months.” Criticism is inevitable at this club. Steven Gerrard echoed that sentiment, insisting that home draws against sides like Burnley are “not acceptable.”
Yet Gerrard also acknowledged that Slot has stabilised the team and lifted them back into the Champions League places after a chaotic autumn. That balance matters.
Slot is Liverpool’s first-ever head coach rather than a traditional manager, stepping into a period of major structural change after last season’s title win. The summer brought sweeping departures and record arrivals, reshaping the squad in ways few Liverpool bosses have experienced.
If a “bad season” still has the club fourth in January, unbeaten in 12 and fighting on three fronts, then perspective is essential. Statistics can fuel debate, but they should not be the final verdict.
At the very least, Slot deserves the full season to keep building something that already shows signs of control, dominance and a clear long-term direction.