FALSE 10: From ruthless to toothless - house always wins

Experienced gamblers will tell you that the key is recognizing the moment, and add the well-known saying: The house always wins.

It goes for casinos in Las Vegas, Monte Carlo, or any other famous "gambling city", and whether one plays poker, blackjack, or slots, it's irrelevant, though there is a slight difference between these three highly popular games.

FALSE 10: Quarter of a century later, Barclaysmen are alive again

With the former two, the selection of moves is more or less the players'. As for the latter, one faces a machine. And not just any machine, but a clever and cunning one. The one that will let one win, raise their hopes, and make them cocky, before punching them in the guts.

This season, Liverpool felt what it's like to be beaten and outsmarted by a slot machine, or rather by A. Slot.

Just like with his namesake gambling game, Arne Slot raised the Reds' hopes sky-high before letting them fall.

FALSE 10: Good ebening, Mr Brad Pitt

Liverpool invested a few bucks in a rather unknown strategist who made some respectable results with Feyenoord, though not good enough to be considered a worthy candidate for the giants' bench.

And the Reds started winning, and the amount in the bottom-right corner of the little screen kept climbing before their eyes.

As surprising as it was, Liverpool absolutely dominated the Premier League in Slot's first season on the bench, pretty much securing the title by March. And even though they lost the EFL Cup final to Newcastle, were stunned in the FA Cup by the minnows Plymouth Argyle, and eliminated from the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain, the Reds' season was considered successful.

A Liverpool fan holding a banner of support dedicated to Arne Slot (©Carl Recine/Getty Images)

After all, they caught up with Manchester United on the all-time list of the champions of England, winning their 20th league piece of silverware.

From this perspective, it's hard to say if Slot's impact was decisive. The club didn't bring a single major reinforcement before the Dutchman's historic campaign and still triumphed in the EPL. And although many gave exceptional credit to the tactician, it's now much more evident that Jurgen Klopp's legacy propelled the Reds towards success.

Once Arne took control into his own hands, Liverpool's downfall began, as the club from Anfield started to realize how fickle fortune can be.

Between the two Slot’s seasons, the Reds spent nearly €500 million, signing some of the most sought-after players on the market, including Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, and Jeremie Frimpong.

The three forwards were supposed to become the new offensive trident modeled after the trio of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino. Instead, the Swede, the German, and the French, whose arrivals were paid €365 million combined, spent together on the pitch only 88 minutes this season?!

Bringing such lavish reinforcements might have disrupted the power dynamics in the locker room. Salah's form in the current campaign is the clearest evidence of that. None of the key players from the previous season - except for the outstanding Dominik Szoboszlai - has been on the expected level. Instead of further development and even stronger bonds inside the squad, everything seems to have fallen apart.

Not to mention some of Slot's rather odd decisions regarding starting lineups, substitutions, and players' positions. Stubbornly keeping subpar Salah in the XI and using Szobo as the right-back are just some examples, and they're only the tip of the iceberg.

In the end, all the problems started to show up in the results.

As of this week, Liverpool have no chance to win a single trophy this season. They were in contention for five and clinched none!

Crystal Palace beat them in the Community Shield on penalties and dismantled them in the EFL Cup fourth round at Anfield, 3-0. Another demolition came in the FA Cup quarter-finals when Manchester City crushed them 4-0 at Etihad, while Paris Saint-Germain knocked them out of the Champions League by the same margin on aggregate. The ship for a league title defence has long sailed, and even their UCL spot is at risk.

The club is facing its first trophyless campaign after three years and the first responsible "culprit" is, as always, the manager.

However, it wouldn't be fair to put the entire burden on Slot's back.

Diogo Jota's tragic death cast a dark shadow over Anfield, and Liverpool are still fighting to step out of it, while the club's hesitation when it comes to extending Salah and Virgil Van Dijk's deals must have unsettled the dressing room atmosphere.

Either way, the first to pay the price will be Slot. Or so it seems.

The candidates to replace him are waiting around the corner. Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola are the first among the equals.

False 10: You'll never make such a legacy alone like Mo did

Liverpool gambled and won some, that's for sure, but lost much more. Not only did they have an abysmal season, but their squad's cohesion seems broken down, and that issue cannot be easily resolved. The new manager will come, but will need time to put things in order.

They threw a whole year out the window. Now, they're back to square one.

FALSE 10: And after all, you're my Wonderwall

As for Slot, he'll manage, with or without the Anfield club. If they sack him, he'll find another destination, probably soon. Another gambler willing to try their luck.

Perhaps their fortunes will be better. Perhaps they'll even "hit a bigger payout". Perhaps they'll make Liverpool regret not giving it a go one more time.

All those "perhaps", and just one sure thing.

The house always wins.

PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 33

Saturday

14.30: (2.15) Brentford (3.60) Fulham (3.20)

17.00: (1.65) Leeds (4.10) Wolverhampton (5.20)

17.00: (2.10) Newcastle (3.90) Bournemouth (3.40)

19.30: (2.75) Tottenham (3.60) Brighton (2.45)

22.00: (2.30) Chelsea (3.85) Manchester United (3.00)

Sunday

16.00: (1.70) Aston Villa (3.60) Sunderland (5.30)

16.00: (3.00) Everton (3.40) Liverpool (2.35)

16.00: (1.50) Nottingham Forest (4.20) Burnley (6.75)

18.30: (1.85) Manchester City (3.80) Arsenal (4.05)

Monday

22.00: (2.40) Crystal Palace (3.35) West Ham (2.95)

***odds are subject to change***