Liverpool’s defeat against Brentford wasn’t just a problem for the reigning champions, it was the clearest evidence that the team had lost its predatory advantage. The Reds have fallen to 7th place in the Premier League after four consecutive losses and are facing a real crisis. The slump revealed weaknesses in Arne Slott’s structure and raised uneasy questions about whether last season’s title win was a show of talent or a bit of a fluke. With Arsenal dominating the table, Liverpool’s aura of invincibility is rapidly fading and there are whispers among supporters that point to deeper problems.
Sunday’s defeat took Liverpool’s number of goals conceded in just nine league games to 14, nearly three times as many as at the same time last season. It was also the first time they had lost four league games in a row since the 2020/21 season, which was overshadowed by title sickness and the use of questionable players. Sound familiar? But this time it feels different and more self-inflicted. Complacency has crept in, the intensity has faded and too many key players seem to be off the pace. In other words, the Reds are mired in mediocrity and may need drastic measures to climb out of it. Here are three steps Slott should consider to arrest his decline at Anfield.
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Mo Salah’s devastating late goal against Brentford, while impressive, only masked the problems with his worrying recent performances. He would scare defenders just by floating in space. But that’s no longer the case.
The Egyptian no longer uses movement alone to defeat opponents or induce mistakes. He has become easier to contain and predict, especially in situations where the pace has slowed and confidence has wavered. Off the ball, Salah has contributed little. He presses less, tracks less, and has minimal impact when away from the box. This is a big concern for a Liverpool team built on intensity and energy.
The truth is, this is not a sudden problem. Even last season, Salah’s influence was not as decisive as the statistics suggest. True, he scored 29 goals in the league, but only eight of them actually changed the game, including the winner, opener and equalizer, with most of the rest either being won easily by Liverpool or taken in penalty shootouts.
So maybe it’s time for Slott to make a bold move and step out of the spotlight. Salah’s release may be tough, but it will be good for his health. It’s a reminder that fame alone doesn’t guarantee playing time. It would also open the door for Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz and even Rio Ngumoja to claim the rights and inject new energy into the attack.
Liverpool seem static at the moment, but the only way to bring about change is to take radical and decisive action. Which brings me to my second suggestion…
Switch to 3-4-3
If Liverpool’s defense continues to concede goals at this rate, change is inevitable. A move to a 3-4-3 could give Slott’s side some much-needed defensive stability without dampening their attacking ambitions. With three centre-backs, the Reds will finally be able to close the gaps that have been so easily exposed, especially on the counter-attack.
This formation will also protect two summer signings, Jeremy Frimpong and Milos Kerkes, who appear to be much more effective forward than defensively. As wing-backs, they were able to exploit space and pace without constantly fearing defensive exposure. Play to their strengths instead of emphasizing their weaknesses.
In midfield, with stronger defense at the back, pairs such as Ryan Gravenbirch and Curtis Jones will need more playing time, but will act as energetic ‘water carriers’, able to work hard, press, tackle and feed forward quickly. It would restore some of the bite and balance that Liverpool have lacked since the days of Jurgen Klopp (more on that later).
There will be plenty of rotation options up front. Wirtz and Dominik Szoboszlai could share the inside right role, while Hugo and Kodi Gakpo could rotate on the left. This set-up would also prevent Alexander Isak from becoming isolated, with the wide forwards moving in while the full-backs hug the touchline. Liverpool need both structure and spark, and a 3-4-3 could provide both.
Bring back Gegenpress
Liverpool’s midfield has lost its bite. Engine rooms that once hunted in packs now float around the game at half speed. The ferocious, stifling press that characterized this team has been replaced by a careful possession game. It’s all a slow build-up, with no sense of urgency.
Transition, once Liverpool’s greatest weapon, now makes them vulnerable and turns control into chaos. This is not only a tactical issue, but also a cultural one. The intensity of the Klopp era was not developed overnight, but was instilled daily as a method as well as a mindset.
Slott’s slower, more measured approach may have looked tidy, but it robbed Liverpool of their most important attribute: a relentless collective energy that overwhelmed opponents before they had a chance to settle down.
The solution is not complicated, but it does require effort. The manager must resume these pressing training sessions and revive the relentless force that has made Liverpool so unstoppable. The Reds will have to attack again by hunting in groups, forcing errors, and setting traps. That’s how they were suffocating their enemies.
Without a truly outstanding star in midfield, the solution is not to pretend there is one, but to rediscover the collective. Returning the unit to tireless water carriers in the mold of Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum. He is a player who gets the ball, moves it, and repeats it. We still need a proper number six, but one step at a time.
