Liverpool and Chelsea, both champions in recent years, have experienced dramatic declines this season. Liverpool, who won the Premier League by 10 points last season, are now enduring their worst run in 71 years with nine defeats in 12 games. Chelsea, who lifted the Club World Cup last summer, may now struggle to finish in the top half of the table.
Liverpool’s problems stem from last summer’s record £450m spending spree, which brought in Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitiké. However, injuries have plagued key players: Isak sustained a fractured fibula after scoring his first goal, Wirtz and Ekitiké also suffered season-ending injuries, and the trio played together for just 115 minutes. Manager Arne Slot has also faced a drop in form from established stars like Mohamed Salah, who publicly criticised Slot after being benched.
Defensive issues have compounded Liverpool’s woes, with recurring set-piece failures and an overly open style of play. Slot has struggled to find solutions, while the post-Jürgen Klopp hangover has been cited as a factor. The club’s transfer strategy, led by Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards, has left an imbalanced squad with inadequate cover, particularly in defence.
For Chelsea, the turning point was the messy departure of manager Enzo Maresca on New Year’s Day. The club turned to Liam Rosenior, formerly of Strasbourg, but the young coach has struggled to stem the decline. Critics point to the club’s endless signing spree, managerial churn, and apparent instability as underlying causes.
