Liverpool endured yet another hammer blow in their 2025/26 Premier League campaign as they were well-beaten by Aston Villa in their penultimate game of the season. A brace from Ollie Watkins on either side of strikes from Morgan Rogers and John McGinn sealed a 4-2 win for the Villans, a result that has secured their spot in the top four while leaving the Reds ripe for the picking of the chasing Bournemouth. The Cherries are currently four points behind Liverpool with a game in hand, and they could potentially move within one point of Arne Slot’s men heading into the final day of the season.
But regardless of where Liverpool finish in the table this season, there can be no denying that 2025/26 has been a massive disappointment. The Reds romped to the Premier League title by ten points last term, and after a summer spending spree of over £350m that saw the likes of Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike all head to Anfield, hopes were high for another successful campaign. Instead, though, Slot’s side have looked like a shadow of the team that was so impressive 12 months ago, slumping down to fifth in the table ahead of the final weekend.
Liverpool’s Champions League Hopes
Despite the recent defeat at Villa Park, online betting sites still make Liverpool a contender to finish ahead of Unai Emery’s men and finish in the top four. The latest soccer betting at Bovada odds make them an even money shot to do exactly that, with the Villans slightly favoured at 4/5. One would expect the difference in the two prices to be somewhat larger considering Villa are already three points clear, but with their tough clash away at Manchester City on the final day of the season — four days removed from their Europa League final against Freiburg — and Liverpool’s superior goal difference, a win for the Reds at home to Brentford on the final day could well be enough for a top four berth.
Still, whether it’s fourth, fifth, or even sixth — if Bournemouth win their remaining games — Liverpool’s season has unquestionably been a disappointment. Many of the Anfield faithful are now clamouring for manager Slot’s head, even after last season’s title triumph. If he does remain in a job, he will need to make some big changes in the summer if his side is to return to contention. Here are the two that we feel are the most important.
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Make Rio Ngumoha A Starter
One of the few bright points of this season has, without question, been the emergence of Rio Ngumoha. The teenage winger burst onto the scene at the start of the season when he netted a last-gasp winner in a highly charged affair away at Newcastle, and since then, he has gone from strength to strength. Throughout the course of his breakout campaign, the 17-year-old has looked like a livewire every time he has been on the pitch, and has genuinely looked like Liverpool’s brightest spark.
He scored in the recent 2-0 victory at home to Fulham, his first goal since that night at St. James’ Park, and Slot rewarded the youngster with starting berths against both Chelsea and Aston Villa, grabbing an assist in the former. Now, the Dutchman must make changes to his squad so that Ngumoha is the clear first choice on the left wing.
Such a change will almost certainly draw the ire of current starting winger Cody Gakpo, who is without question one of Slot’s favourites at Anfield. However, his miserable form this term has been the polar opposite of that of Ngumoha. As such, the manager may well have to sell the PSV Eindhoven winger and nurture his new young star, who could go on to become an absolute superstar if developed correctly.
Sign a New Centre Back
Even at the age of 34, Virgil van Dijk remains elite. The Liverpool skipper has stood up to be counted throughout the club’s testing times this season. He scored a pair of headers in the recent 4-2 defeat against Villa, while his last-gasp winner away at Everton was one of the highlights of the season. In defence, he remains as dominant as ever, despite losing that turn of pace he used to show in his younger years.
The opposite can be said of his defensive partner, Ibrahima Konate. The Frenchman has presided over one disaster-class after another this term and has looked like a calamity waiting to happen each and every week. His shocking display in the Champions League away at Galatasaray will live long in the memory, and he could well be on his way out of Anfield as a result.
Konate’s contract with the club is due to expire this summer, and he is expected to follow Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid. If he does — and even if he doesn’t, to be fair — Liverpool must ensure that they sign a solid defender to partner van Dijk at the heart of the defence. Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi is currently linked with the club, and with him being available in a free transfer, he would be a brilliant signing.
