If you can't excel, at least know how to win. Liverpool this season can't do either of those two things.
The 2-4 defeat to Aston Villa may not be the most painful defeat in the chaotic season of the team under Arne Slot, but it is certainly one of the performances that most clearly reflects The Kop's decline. That was Liverpool's 19th defeat in all competitions this season - too big a number for a team that has entered the season as the reigning Premier League champion.
More importantly, the defeat at Villa Park makes Liverpool's Champions League race extremely fragile. In a season that fans want to quickly forget, Slot's team is now even facing the risk of losing their return to the most prestigious playground in Europe.
In theory, Liverpool's task in this round is quite simple: to win to continue to hold the power of self-determination. But once again, they succumbed in a familiar way - lacking sharpness, instability and easily collapsing when put under pressure.
The first half at Villa Park partly showed that Liverpool did not play badly. However, the lack of Alexander Isak and Mohamed Salah made the away team's attack lose the necessary difference.
Isak is rested to avoid re-injury after returning not long ago, while Salah is only fit enough to sit on the bench. As a result, Liverpool is completely lacking in breakthroughs in important moments.
That further put pressure on Florian Wirtz - a blockbuster signing worth £125 million last summer. But once again, the German international disappointed with a lackluster performance after coming on as a substitute.
While Liverpool wasted opportunities, Aston Villa gradually regained confidence and opened the score right before halftime thanks to Morgan Rogers' moment of brilliance.
The Red Brigade" once rekindled hopes with Virgil van Dijk's equalizer at the beginning of the second half, and even almost took the lead when Rio Ngumoha's shot hit the post. However, all efforts quickly collapsed just over a minute later.
Dominik Szoboszlai slipped in midfield, creating conditions for Rogers to assist Ollie Watkins to score to increase the score to 2-1. That was a turning point, and also a typical image for Liverpool this season: fragile, uncertain and easily losing the game.
Watkins then completed a double, before John McGinn scored another super product to close another nightmare for the away team. Van Dijk's late goal was only of honor.
The statistics further show the level of crisis of Liverpool under Slot. They conceded 20 goals from set pieces in the Premier League - the most in the league. In total, Liverpool conceded 51 goals, the club's worst defensive record in a Premier League season of 38 rounds since the 1914-1915 season.
The port city team also only won 1 point out of a total of 24 maximum points when playing away against teams in the top 9 this season. More notably, Liverpool has never won away from home in the Premier League after being led in the first half under Slot.
After the match, the Dutch strategist still tried to maintain an optimistic attitude. He believes that Liverpool only needs to improve "a few small details" and the summer transfer window could create a big change.
Slot also affirmed that he has every reason to believe that he will continue to lead Liverpool next season, despite the growing wave of skepticism from fans. The leadership of Fenway Sports Group is said to still have faith in the Dutch coach, but that no longer reflects the general mood at Anfield.
When Liverpool players left Villa Park, Champions League music rang out amidst the home team's celebration. And at this moment, it is hard to believe Liverpool is capable of returning to that stage next season.
One of the things we need to improve is something that everyone can see, although I don't want to say too much here, but it seems like people are forcing me to mention it.
If you lose up to 9 players who are capable of starting, and almost all are key players, it will have a huge impact. Then add up what the team can improve in the transfer window and the fact that many players will enter their second season in the Premier League" - Slot said after the match.
