Arne Slot‘s selections will rightly come into query after Liverpool newest defeat, 3-2 at Brentford, and his unwavering religion in Mohamed Salah is a type of.
Brentford 3-2 Liverpool
Premier League (9) | Gtech Group StadiumOctober 25, 2025
Objectives: Ouattara 5′, Schade 45′ Igor pen 60′; Kerkez 45+4′, Salah 89′
1. The transition season is right here
Nicely, all of us anticipated it instantly following Slot’s arrival, nevertheless it appears the dreaded transition season has as an alternative arrived this time round.
Disjointed ahead play, disorganisation on the again – all of the hallmarks of the tough marketing campaign that tends to observe main change are there.
And so maybe we have to regulate our expectations round what this yr might probably carry for Liverpool.
Put merely, it’s already apparent that this workforce isn’t anyplace close to ok to win the Premier League or the Champions League.
As such, securing Champions League qualification appears to be the restrict of their ambitions and must be the brand new goal within the dressing room.
2. Liverpool need to embrace their new actuality
Loads of soccer managers have excessive beliefs about how soccer must be performed, till the Premier League smacks them within the face – simply ask Pep Guardiola.
And also you surprise if this season goes to be a nine-month-long journey in direction of Liverpool’s teaching and recruitment workers realising that their plans for this workforce are doomed.
Whether or not they prefer it or not, soccer in England has moved into an period by which set-pieces and physicality are all of the issues, and also you both adapt or die.
That implies that utilizing a diminutive creator at No. 10, flying full-backs and a flexible assortment of midfielders missing specialist roles in all probability isn’t going to chop it.
Sadly, this has solely turn into clear after a summer time of main surgical procedure.
3. Don’t signal Marc Guehi
Liverpool’s struggles with buildup in deep areas at occasions this season have made the failure to signal Marc Guehi this summer time appear like a deadly error.
But the Reds might properly find yourself feeling they’ve dodged a bullet in not buying the England worldwide on the finish of a marketing campaign that has, to date, been outlined by weak spot from set-pieces.
Make no mistake, Guehi is a high quality participant, however at this level it will be an act of self-harm so as to add a centre-back so missing in aerial prowess to this workforce.
As a substitute, extra dominance within the air is required via your complete workforce as a way to compete in a Premier League that more and more calls for it.
Liverpool’s recruitment workers seem to have been behind the curve on that growth, however they’ve an opportunity to right it within the coming switch home windows.
4. Slot’s Salah blind spot is an issue
It’s simple sufficient to grasp why a supervisor may need main religion in a participant who simply final season offered him the best particular person marketing campaign in Premier League historical past.
However that religion ought to solely stretch to this point, and Salah is definitely testing its limits along with his performances in latest weeks.
Sure, the Egyptian scored, however he additionally put in arguably his worst efficiency in a Liverpool shirt, finishing 16 of his 23 passes, certainly one of 4 dribbles and profitable simply two of 11 duels.
This was such a nasty exhibiting that even his objective didn’t justify leaving him on the pitch, and Slot has some severe considering to do about whether or not he might be dropped.
5. Jones and Szoboszlai emerge with credit score
If simply two gamers who can maintain their head excessive after this newest shambles, it’s absolutely Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai.
They may do little greater than watch the ball fly over their heads at any time when Brentford attacked, however what little management Liverpool did exert got here from their work price and use of the ball.
If the Reds are to discover a strong basis going ahead, they need to be a part of it, maybe alongside Ryan Gravenberch relatively than Florian Wirtz – although Jones’ late damage might already put paid to that.
They may additionally want to ask their teammates why they don’t get somewhat bit extra help.
Brentford 3-2 Liverpool
