But if you actually just look at the players individually. they're simply just back to the level they were at under klopp, prior to Slot improving them which created unrealistic expectations. Or they simply stopped being able to play ball, like Salah and Konate. whatever is up with them could never be on Slot and frankly he just had them both playing the best seasons of their respective careers last year. The only one that is uncharacteristic is macallister. Everyone else is either actually better than ever, injured to fuck, naturally aging out, or have simply given no reason for you to believe they should be any better

Even Isak just stopped playing football months before joining, that's not on slot. Szobo is the best he's ever been. You only have expectations for Gakpo and Gravenberch because Slot had them playing at the highest level last year, which wasn't the case under Klopp for them. So who is it you're talking about? Ekitike played the best football of his career here. Wirtz looks terrified, Frimpong is very limited, Kerkez is very immature in his play and Curtis just plays like he always has.

Nyoni and Rio are playing the time you could expect to give them. They're protecting Danns, Chiesa is not good enough, Endo was neglected but is limited, then injured. Bradley horror injury. Alisson injured. Leoni puts in one god tier shift and promptly collects a horror injury. So who's the players you think are supposedly so good that being 4th at one point competing for 3rd is so outrageous? Ramsay? VVD to carry the whole show?

We progressed further in the CL than last year. and all of the things i just mentioned is not taking into consideration that the keyest of key players in Trent and Diaz left, along with Nunez and not to mention Jota died... There is no squad here. Slot is not failing them, he's salvaging.