It’s only November, yet it’s already proven a season of highs and lows for Liverpool. Narrow victories—almost all requiring late goals—meant the Reds led the Premier League standings with five wins from five and started the Champions League and Carabao Cup (since eliminated from the latter tournament) with a spring in their step.
Then, everything swung in the other direction with six defeats from seven in all competitions. After swatting aside Real Madrid in a hard-fought 1-0 win, the momentum shifted once more.
Underpinning these teething pains—resulting from a much-changed squad compared to the English champions of 2024/25—is a sense of imbalance. The majority of coach Arne Slot’s team, aside from the central defenders and goalkeeper, thrive higher up the pitch. As a result, the offense has packed a punch but often felt disjointed—a stable of talents trying not to step on each other’s toes.
Meanwhile, opponents have capitalized on the weaknesses at the back; in the league, Liverpool have conceded 14 goals compared to table-topping Arsenal’s three.
Financially emboldened, Liverpool tried to evolve by spending around €450 million (€520 million) on forward-thinking players in the summer. Nevertheless, there’s a risk of regression if Slot can’t find the balance that first brought him success.
## The Winning Blend
Under the microscope amid poor results, Slot delivered with style against the might of Real Madrid. Now, with record signing Alexander Isak returning to full training, the question is whether Liverpool’s new firepower alone will be enough.
Indeed, there’s a sense that Slot’s delicately assembled squad will one day click into gear—that Isak, Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, and others will start producing “PlayStation football,” all while Virgil van Dijk marshals the defense.
Sunday’s test against Manchester City will reveal a lot.
Sir Alex Ferguson, who masterminded 13 Premier League titles at Liverpool’s arch rivals Manchester United, famously said, “Attack wins you games but defense wins you titles.” Unless the Anfield club can replicate its latest performances against Aston Villa and Madrid, it will be hard to finish top of the tree again—especially given that much of Premier League football nowadays, for all its global marketing around creators and goal-getters, is about staying tight and grinding out points.
The Champions League presents a slightly different challenge. To defend their crown with a revamped squad, Liverpool will likely need to buck the trend. With 2025/26 still taking shape, there’s time for sides to find the right formula and build consistency. Liverpool could crack the code early, quietly grinding away to turn this “dream team” into a well-oiled machine.
However, as the club prepares for life after stalwarts like Van Dijk and Mohammed Salah, don’t be surprised if the lineup becomes an even more complete article in the months and years ahead.
Following an active offseason—during which Liverpool missed out on established Crystal Palace center-back Marc Guéhi—Slot clarified that he is “completely happy” with the squad at the close of October. Building on a positive week with more victories would go a long way toward justifying that faith.
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/finance/will-liverpool-ultimately-pay-the-price-for-a-top-heavy-forward-line/