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It’s just the way of the modern media machine in these sensationalised times that the proverbial mountain is often made out of a molehill.

Pundits are only too happy to write teams off at will; even if the perceived drop-off in form is merely a short-term blip in the running of a long-old season.

So while Liverpool’s 2025/26 campaign is far from a disaster quite yet, there’s no doubt that something is amiss for Arne Slot’s men.

And the finger of blame for a fitful start to the season has to be pointed at the defence.

Slot’s Machine

With four defeats in their opening nine games, Liverpool have slumped to 13/2 in the Premiership betting odds, behind Arsenal (2/5) and Manchester City (13/2). The Reds were, of course, the favourites for the title before a ball had been kicked.

But now, football betting tips columns are so much more willing to take Liverpool on; a situation driven by the fact that the Reds have shipped 14 goals in those nine outings… that makes backing against them a whole bunch easier.

Much has been made of Mo Salah’s drop off in form, but all of the performance data suggests that Liverpool remain an attacking force; they rank third in the Premier League for Non-Penalty xG, which is a useful measure of how effective teams are at creating strong goalscoring chances from open play sources.

So the issue is very clearly a defensive one, which is evidenced by the fact that Slot’s side rank joint-ninth for xG conceded and eighth for Non-Penalty xG yielded.

In last season’s title win, the Reds ranked 19th for xG conceded – that means that only Arsenal were better at repelling goalscoring chances – and the same for Non-Penalty xG.

There has been, quite evidently, a mammoth regression in defensive standards. But why?

New Faces, New Problems

In amongst that defensive data, it’s worth noting that Liverpool had shipped just four goals from open-play situations in those opening nine games.

But the Reds have conceded the joint-most from counterattacks and six goals from set pieces… both of which would suggest that basic, long-ball football is causing an almighty kerfuffle in the defensive area.

It’s ironic, because Trent Alexander-Arnold offered little in the way of defending set pieces aerially, while his freedom of movement often left the Reds exposed to counter forays even before his switch to Real Madrid in the summer.

But the lack of an obvious replacement at right back – Dominik Szoboszlai evidently isn’t a defender – and the decision to jettison Andy Robertson at left back has seemingly unsettled Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk in the centre of defence.

Subjectively, it does seem as though Konate’s levels have dropped this term, so there’s an argument that Joe Gomez could be brought in there, with Robertson returning at left back.

Injuries have hampered Slot’s selections in the defensive midfield positions, so hopefully time will solve that particular problem… although that in itself is a luxury given the rigours of regular weekend-midweek-weekend football.

Incredibly strong in some positions, Slot’s squad is haplessly weak in others; the thwarted transfer window move for Marc Guéhi is evidence that even the manager himself isn’t convinced by the options he has at his disposal in defence.

Crisis? Maybe not. But solutions have to be found nonetheless… otherwise comparisons to 2022/23, when Jurgen Klopp’s side finished fifth after a stellar 2021/22, may just become a reality.

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