By Matija Šerić
After a spectacular season in which Liverpool FC won the Premier League and brought in top-tier signings during the summer, the club seemed poised to be one of the strongest in its history. Expectations were high that the Reds would continue their trophy-winning momentum. However, football is a sport full of surprises—and Liverpool is proving that this season.
At the start of the current campaign, Liverpool has plunged into a troubling crisis with no clear way out. After nine Premier League matches, the Reds sit in seventh place, a full seven points behind leaders Arsenal. The record is even more worrying: five wins and four defeats. For context, Liverpool had only four losses after all 38 games of last season. On Wednesday, October 29, the team suffered a humiliating 0-3 home defeat to Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup. Liverpool has fared slightly better in the Champions League with two wins and one loss. Fans and pundits alike are asking: what’s going wrong? The answers are not immediately obvious, but a detailed analysis suggests that the current struggles are not mere bad luck—they stem from serious mistakes both on and off the pitch.
Nearly €500 Million Spent on “Reinforcements”
Liverpool invested around €483 million in new players over the summer. High-profile signings include striker Alexander Isak (€145m), playmaker Florian Wirtz (€125m), forward Hugo Ekitiké (€95m), left-back Miloš Kerkez (€47m), right-back Jeremie Frimpong (€40m), and center-back Giovanni Leoni (€31m). Meanwhile, players like Diogo Jota, Luis Díaz, Darwin Núñez, and Trent Alexander-Arnold departed. On paper, the new arrivals are at least as talented as those who left, though replicating Jota’s magic in crucial moments will be difficult.
So far, the new signings have struggled to justify their massive price tags. Isak has yet to score, contributing only one assist and is currently sidelined with injury. Wirtz has delivered a mediocre performance, averaging a 6.49 rating on Sofascore. Ekitiké has three goals, which is below expectations. Kerkez and Frimpong, though regular starters, have underwhelmed defensively and offensively, averaging ratings of 6.59 and 6.68, respectively. If the new signings continue to perform at this level, Liverpool’s management, led by director Tom Werner, could face criticism for squandering nearly half a billion euros.
Defeat at Brentford
A Run of Poor Results
Liverpool’s woes were hinted at from the very start, losing the FA Community Shield on penalties to Crystal Palace. As of October 31, the Reds have lost six of their last seven matches (against Galatasaray, Chelsea, Manchester United, Brentford, and twice to Crystal Palace). Even in victories, such as against Atletico Madrid, Liverpool rarely played convincingly. Manager Arne Slot is now under intense scrutiny and at risk of being sacked.
Vulnerable to Fast Breaks
Slot often downplays his responsibility for losses, citing injuries, unlucky goals, poor finishing, and defensive errors. Yet, the core problem is a lack of balance and identity. Klopp’s Liverpool was a relentless, high-energy pressing machine, compact in all areas of the pitch. Slot’s side, by contrast, looks slow, disorganized, and devoid of intensity. The pressing burden falls entirely on the midfield, which struggles to keep up, leaving the team exposed in transition.
Statistics highlight the problem. Liverpool currently concedes the fourth-highest expected goals (xG) from counterattacks in the league at 1.62 per game. Opponents exploit wide areas, where full-backs often push too far forward. Bournemouth exposed this weakness early in the season, and Brentford recently fired 17 shots and created seven big chances, demonstrating how fragile the defense has become.
Long Balls a Persistent Threat
Slot admitted that Liverpool struggles against long balls. Brentford, for instance, completed 64 precise long passes, exploiting the Reds’ defensive weaknesses. Center-backs Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté often had to scramble back to cover dangerous balls, revealing a vulnerability rooted in Slot’s tactical approach. Manchester United also capitalized on this flaw effectively.
Injuries Push Slot to the Edge
Injuries have further compounded Liverpool’s issues. Key players sidelined include Alisson Becker (returning November 10), Stefan Bajčetić (November 2), Alexander Isak (November 5), Giovanni Leoni (out for the season), Curtis Jones (returning soon), and Jayden Danns (November 15). Ryan Gravenberch is expected back against Aston Villa but will need time to regain full fitness. The absence of these players, particularly Gravenberch, leaves the midfield vulnerable. His height (190 cm) and physical presence are rare for Liverpool midfielders and essential for winning aerial duels.
Analysis of Liverpool’s problems
Midfield Gaps and Lack of Creativity
Slot has tried to compensate by relying on technically gifted midfielders like Wirtz and Jones to control possession. While this sometimes works, losing the ball exposes massive gaps. Wirtz, with just a 33% success rate in duels, exemplifies the midfield imbalance. Players like Alexis Mac Allister and Conor Bradley blend into the team but do not provide the bite needed in central areas.
Dominik Szoboszlai often finds himself isolated in midfield, doing his best but unable to hold the line alone. Slot admitted after the Brentford game, “We lost too many duels, conceded too many second balls.” Liverpool’s inefficiency in set pieces is also glaring—they have scored only two goals from set plays this season compared to Arsenal’s 11.
Aging Stars and Underperforming New Signings
Some veteran players are past their prime. The Van Dijk-Konaté center-back pairing is no longer as reliable, and the full-backs Kerkez and Frimpong have not impressed. Mohamed Salah has also shown signs of decline, averaging 6.61. At 33, he struggles to adapt to Slot’s tactical changes and is often isolated on the wing, lacking support from full-backs since Alexander-Arnold’s departure.
Slot Under Pressure, Liverpool’s Season at Risk
Slot is now one of football’s most scrutinized managers. Following the heavy Carabao Cup defeat to Crystal Palace, he faced criticism for benching key players like Salah, Ekitiké, and van Dijk. He insists he will not change his style despite the losing streak, though he admits the team struggles against low blocks and long balls. Defensively, Liverpool must improve if they hope to compete for trophies. Only two of the 15 games this season saw them keep a clean sheet.
The Road Ahead
Contract extension talks for Slot were reportedly underway but have been postponed due to poor results. Liverpool’s next three fixtures—Aston Villa at home (Nov. 1), Real Madrid at Anfield (Nov. 4), and Manchester City away (Nov. 9)—will be extremely challenging. Three consecutive losses could end Slot’s tenure, and the Reds may finish third or fourth in the Premier League, jeopardizing their Champions League ambitions.
Despite gloomy predictions, the season is not over. The coming weeks are crucial. Liverpool must regain momentum, restructure their tactics, and rediscover their identity if they hope to compete for silverware this season.
References:
https://www.transfermarkt.com/fc-liverpool/startseite/verein/31
