Arne Slot told exactly why Liverpool title defense has faltered in second season

Arsenal legend Sol Campbell has given his thoughts on what has gone wrong for defending champions Liverpool as they trail 14 points behind the Gunners in the Premier League title race

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.(Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)

Arsenal legend Sol Campbell has shared his view on why Liverpool is languishing so far behind his former club in the Premier League title race.

The defending champions fought out a 0-0 draw with the league leaders at the Emirates on Thursday night. It was a result and display that lifted Liverpool fans and served as a reminder to the nation of exactly who the reigning champions are.

That said, the outcome did little to help the Reds' faint hopes of reeling in Mikel Arteta's side, with the 14-point chasm between the two teams remaining intact heading into FA Cup weekend. It was worlds apart from last season when Liverpool, in head coach Arne Slot's maiden campaign at the helm, swept aside the competition, ultimately finishing 10 points clear of runners-up Arsenal despite collecting just two points from their final 12 on offer.

And Campbell, who secured two Premier League titles and three FA Cups with the Gunners following his controversial free transfer from rivals Tottenham Hotspur, said: "The first season winning [the Premier League] was amazing for him [Arne Slot] – all the players were up for it.

"What's happened now is they've brought in some new players, it's been a little bit of uproar, discussions, people may be getting the wrong end of the stick. There's a lot of TV, a lot of radio, a lot of papers talking about certain players and what's happened.

"It was almost too easy the first season. It's almost like everything just fell into place – it's beautiful, it's great. Sometimes a new manager comes in, and the players just get going and want to prove to the manager: 'I'm a top player'.

"What's happened is everyone, for whatever reason, has switched off – like it's just going to happen again: 'We're going to steamroll, we're just going to keep it happening.. But football and life – things come and clash and turn your world upside down without you even seeing it coming. That's what's happened to Liverpool.

"And obviously they've had a sad passing of a top player [Diogo Jota], and that can affect people in different ways as well.

Sol Campbell believes Liverpool's title win last season was "almost too easy"(Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

"But things have just turned, and people can't even understand why it's so hard: 'Why is this happening to us?' It's football. The momentum has shifted away. To get back that momentum is hard – you've got to dig in, you've got to find a way.

"But it's not easy because there's another four or five teams at the top fighting to get into the Champions League, win the Premier League, get into a good position. There is competition.

"Last season felt so easy for them – everything was so smooth, like clockwork, like they didn't have to work for it as much. But this season, they have to work for it.

"They've got a few different personnel, and a lot of off-the-field stuff has happened and that's affected them in different ways.

"But they are still a top side, they have great players. It's just the momentum has shifted from them."

There's optimism that Liverpool will build on their promising second-half performance against Arsenal. Despite extending their run of draws to three matches, the Reds remain undefeated in their last nine Premier League games.

This has helped to silence the rumours surrounding Slot, whose future was under scrutiny by pundits after a string of nine losses in 12 matches.

"Football can turn easily if you're not careful," warned former England star Campbell, speaking exclusively to Sky Bet. "People can be with you and then two, three games down the line, they're against you. Arne Slot will know that – he knows how football works.

"Results are the main thing. Turn around the results, and the performances. People have to realise you can always get lucky wins – that's great – but you need the performances as well.

"Once the performances start turning around into a more positive territory, he's going to be a lot happier. And the players will be a lot happier with themselves as well."