Liverpool began the 2025–26 Premier League season as reigning champions, and the expectation was that Liverpool’s momentum would carry into the new season. Instead, three defeats at Crystal Palace, Galatasaray, and Chelsea have exposed frailties that had, until recently, been obscured by moments of late drama. What once looked like resilience now resembles fragility and feels like a structural wobble.
Late goals that masked deficiencies
In the opening weeks, Liverpool’s knack for snatching results in the dying minutes was hailed as the hallmark of champions. Against Newcastle, it was 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha who came to the rescue; at Burnley, a late penalty salvaged the points; in Europe, Atlético Madrid were undone by a stoppage-time surge.
But these moments of resilience only disguised the cracks forming beneath the surface, a midfield lacking control, erratic full-backs, and an attack too often disjointed. The illusion has since faded. Late goals have gone the other way, with both Palace and Chelsea scoring late to clinch victories, while in Istanbul, Liverpool looked blunt and uncertain in a 1-0 loss to Galatasaray. Slot attributed the slump to “fine margins,” but repeated flaws suggest something more systemic.
£446m of pressure
Liverpool’s lavish summer of spending, a reported £446m, though closer to £218m in net terms, according to Sky Sports, was meant to herald evolution. Instead, it has amplified scrutiny. Marquee signings, Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, and full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong have yet to fully adapt, and some suggest the spending spree may have done more harm than good.
Isak arrived amid a drawn-out standoff at Newcastle, and though he’s shown flashes (notably linking with Cody Gakpo for Liverpool’s goal against Chelsea), his adaptation has been slow, unsurprising, however, given his lack of a pre-season. Meanwhile, Wirtz, a £116m signing, has struggled. At the time of writing, he has no goals or assists in the Premier League or Champions League. Wirtz has struggled to get involved, with Gary Neville describing the German international as “immature in his knowledge of how to play the game.” Jamie Carragher has equally criticised the new signing, suggesting that he needs to be dropped, saying he is negatively affecting the balance of the team. Such pressure seems excessive for a 20-year-old adjusting to a new league, but when club and fan expectations are elevated so early, mistakes get less forgiveness.
Liverpool unravelling in the middle
However, Wirtz forms only part of a faltering midfield. Last season, one of Liverpool’s strengths was midfield control. Slot’s team was able to dominate possession, press in synchrony, and create overloads. Now, that fluency has been lost.
The full-backs are also not at the level of previous years. Without Trent Alexander-Arnold, who joined Real Madrid in the summer, the side is missing the verticality and link play that they once had. New options at full-back have yet to compensate, with Kerkez and Frimpong both looking a little lost at times. Defensively, Liverpool have looked far from the stable unit of last year, with both Ibrahima Konaté and Virgil Van Dijk equally looking ill at ease. Mismatches on transitions and second-ball losses have been punished repeatedly, while injuries have compounded matters, with Slot often having to juggle lineup configurations, especially in central defence, creating uncertainty.
From structure to incoherence
Contrast this with the 2024–25 season, when Liverpool were title winners. There was structure, balance, and resilience. Late goals were earned, not merely lucky. The team seemed to know its strengths, pressing for 90 minutes, controlling games, and deploying their wings fluidly. Now, the structure looks brittle. The midfield press is less cohesive and often gets surpassed in games; the full-backs lack the same attacking threat, while attackers often seem disconnected.
That said, the season has only just begun. Liverpool remain just a point off top spot. Even when they lost, they created chances. Virgil van Dijk has urged calm and consistency, suggesting that the same mindset that delivered a title can rescue them again.
The path to reset
However, Liverpool must revisit their recruitment assumptions. If Wirtz is not influencing games, they may need to find a new balance. The system must flex, not straitjacket. Full-backs need clarity and role definition. Integrating Isak in ways that support midfield cohesion rather than isolate him is also crucial.
Slot will need to earn his money now, in the words of Jamie Carragher. The injuries, departures, and transitions are a factor in their stumbling start, but expectations will not diminish. If Liverpool fail to rediscover structure, pressure will only intensify.
GFN | Finn Entwistle
