Make no mistake, Liverpool Football Club finds itself engulfed in a full-blown crisis. The statistics paint a grim picture: nine defeats in their last twelve outings, a staggering ten goals conceded in just three games, and a mere single goal scored over the same period.
This dramatic slump comes despite the club investing £450 million during the summer transfer window. The result? The Reds now sit a shocking 13 points and 11 places worse off compared to their position at this stage last season. As fixtures continue to arrive thick and fast, the team keeps plumbing new depths, leaving fans and pundits alike struggling to identify the root cause of such a spectacular collapse.
Defensive Disarray and Structural Collapse
The bedrock of Arne Slot's initial success at Anfield was built on defensive solidity and clean sheets. Memorable 2-0 victories against European giants Real Madrid and Manchester City within five days, following a 4-0 thrashing of Bayer Leverkusen, showcased a team in complete control.
That control has utterly vanished in 2025. Since January 1, Liverpool have played 49 games across all competitions and conceded a staggering 66 goals. The rate of concession is alarmingly accelerating; the first 29 games up to May 25 saw 33 goals let in, while the 20 games since August 10 have already seen another 33 goals shipped, culminating in the recent shellacking by PSV Eindhoven.
Nothing about the defensive set-up appears functional. Slot's persistent use of midfielders Curtis Jones or Dominik Szoboszlai at right-back, when Conor Bradley or Jeremie Frimpong are injured, has frequently unbalanced the entire side. While the impact of missing out on signing Marc Guehi remains unknown, the ease with which opponents are slicing through Liverpool's centre – a gap now likened to being wider than the Mersey Tunnel – suggests more suffering is imminent.
New Signings Fail to Make Their Mark
The summer spending spree of over £400 million raised expectations, yet the new recruits have largely underwhelmed. The worrying consensus that Arsenal possesses the Premier League's best squad, despite Liverpool's colossal outlay, speaks volumes.
Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz face monumental challenges to alter the prevailing narrative. While insiders praise Wirtz's magical deftness and ability, it has yet to translate consistently to the English game. Similarly, full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong have been notably poor, their individual struggles magnified by the team's collective woes.
Goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili has the physical stature for the role but has so far failed to convince anyone that allowing Caoimhin Kelleher to join Brentford was a sound decision. Hugo Ekitike started explosively but has lost his way since a foolish sending-off in the League Cup. As a group, this expensive influx has yet to grasp the character required to play for Liverpool.
Can Arne Slot Survive the Mounting Pressure?
The atmosphere surrounding the club has shifted palpably. Slot's recent press conference was notably less jovial, attracting intense media scrutiny, with one Dutch journalist even cancelling a flight home to attend, signalling that his future is now a major story in his homeland.
The manager, who admitted to barely sleeping after the PSV defeat, looked like a man under severe strain, fielding awkward questions about his job security. While he delivered unforgettable days just six months ago, nine defeats in 12 matches is an abomination for which he must take responsibility.
Captain Virgil van Dijk has stated that senior players are letting the head coach down, and he may be right. However, if Liverpool loses again this Sunday at West Ham, the noise demanding Slot's departure will become deafening. The concerning fact is that Slot isn't drastically altering his methods from the successful previous campaign, yet his once-invincible tactics are now riddled with cracks.
The old guard, rewarded with new contracts, are simply not performing to their previous standards. Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have been far from their best, while Alisson's injury absence has been keenly felt. The squad depth appears threadbare, with substitutions lacking the game-changing impact of previous seasons. Despite the enormous summer investment, Liverpool look light in several key areas, leaving Arne Slot staring into an increasingly deep crisis with no easy answers in sight.
