Liverpool have recently experienced a losing streak, which includes four successive defeats in all competitions. This marks the first time since Arne Slot was appointed head coach last summer that the club has faced such a run of losses. All of these losses are due to a combination of individual defensive errors, a tactical system that leaves the team exposed, and underwhelming offensive output from new and star players.
September 27,2025, lost to Crystal Palace 2-1 in the Premier League
September 30, 2025, lost 1-0 to Galatasaray in the Champions League
October 4, 2025, lost 2-1 to Chelsea in the Premier League
October 19, 2025, lost 2-1 to Manchester United in the Premier League
October 26, 2025, lost 3-2 to Brentford in the Premier League
October 29, 2025, lost 3-0 to Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup
Contributing Factors to the losing streak
- Poor defensive performance: Defensive solidity has collapsed compared to last season. The team has conceded 14 goals in the 2025-2026 season so far, compared to last seasons at this stage only letting in 4 goals. This can be attributed to several factors:
- Full-back issues: New full back arrivals including Milo Kerkez and Jeremy Frimpong are appearing ineffective and struggling to adapt. The loss of Trent Alexander-Arnold and bringing in a more offensive “winger” as a fullback was not the right move.
- Long-ball nonsense: The manager has admitted that Liverpool cannot cope with a long-ball strategy, so it was no surprise Brentford used that to their advantage. Brentford has a total of 64 direct passes. Liverpool centerbacks Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate spent more time running towards their own goal than anything else.
- Easy to catch on during fast breaks: There is a lack of coherence and balance in the Liverpool structure. Under their former manager Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool was a pressing machine and kept much of that intensity last year, but with games this season, it’s been much more passive. The pressure falls onto the midfield trio, who are coming back in transition. The workload of Ryan Gravenberch has led him to get injured and feel fatigued while also using Dominik Szoboszlai who’s an engine in the midfield, having to play right back because Connor Bradely is not playing up to par and Slot not wanting to play Jeremy Frimpong unless there’s 5 minutes left of the match.
Slot has work to do. Priority number one has got to be to stop conceding goals at a rate of knots. Liverpool’s last clean sheet was six weeks ago against Burnley. And they have got a problem with set-pieces too. No time for soul searching, then, Slot needs solutions, or this painful transition period is set to last long into winter. Manchester City era 24/25 season 2.0?
