Arne Slot didn't hold back after Liverpool's 3-2 defeat at Manchester United, venting his frustration at yet another VAR call going against his side. But the Dutch manager was quick to admit that the technology wasn't the only problem—Liverpool's own costly mistakes are becoming a troubling pattern.

The drama started early when Benjamin Sesko's 14th-minute strike put United 2-0 up. The goal was checked for a potential handball, but referee Darren England and VAR official Stuart Attwell let it stand. A furious Slot slammed his fist on the table during his post-match press conference, arguing that the ball's trajectory clearly changed upon contact. "If it was a touch, which I think it is, in a ball sport it has a certain curve and it changes—it must be a contact," he said. "Then we should have a debate if that is enough to disallow a goal."

Slot pointed to a season-long trend of VAR decisions going against Liverpool, recalling a similar incident against Paris Saint-Germain where a soft penalty call was overturned. But he didn't let his team off the hook. "We lost it because we lost the ball in a stupid position, so we have to first look at ourselves," Slot admitted. "This is a complete pattern over the season, but there is also a pattern that we concede ridiculous goals."

The defeat was a bitter pill for Liverpool fans, who had been singing "champions" from the away end at Old Trafford—a reminder of their title triumph last season. But it also highlighted just how far the Reds have fallen in their feeble title defense. United, who finished 42 points behind Liverpool last season in 15th place, now look set to finish above Slot's side for the first time since the 2022-23 campaign. Michael Carrick's men also completed a league double over Liverpool for the first time since 2015-16.

For Liverpool, the numbers are stark: 11 Premier League losses, 18 defeats in all competitions—the most since the club's darkest days. While Slot's VAR fury grabs the headlines, the real story is a team that keeps shooting itself in the foot. As the season winds down, the Reds have some serious soul-searching to do if they want to get back in the title conversation.