Liverpool have been ‘came upon’. Not less than, that is what a number of the discourse across the Premier League champions’ wobbly begin to the season would let you know.
Curiously, for all of the noise round Liverpool’s struggles, they sit only one level behind first-place Arsenal after dropping back-to-back matches within the division. Their bitter defeat at Galatasaray within the Champions League needn’t be greater than an outlier.
However there isn’t any query that Arne Slot and FSG have work to do. The Reds lack fluency and verve, and after a record-breaking summer time of spending, considerations are justified.
However, conversely, teething issues are usually not irregular and nor are they an indicator of the gamers’ probabilities of long-term success at Anfield.
However enhancements, nonetheless, are wanted going ahead.
Liverpool’s new-look frontline
Liverpool had been crushed at Stamford Bridge earlier than the October worldwide break. Cody Gakpo cancelled out Moises Caicedo’s thumping first-half strike, however Slot’s facet lacked coherence and confidence within the closing levels and had been caught out on the flickering embers by younger Estevao Willian.
Tactically, the issues run by means of the squad, however the frontline nonetheless have not carried out to their common, anticipated customary, and the toils of Mohamed Salah function the awful illustration of that.
To date, £69m striker Hugo Ekitike is the one one who can maintain his head excessive, with Florian Wirtz specifically coming below scrutiny for his struggles since finishing a report £116m transfer from Bayer Leverkusen, since trumped by new teammate Alexander Isak.
Liverpool’s Frontline in 2025/26 | ||
|---|---|---|
Participant | Apps | Targets (assists) |
Hugo Ekitike | 10 | 5 (1) |
Mohamed Salah | 10 | 3 (3) |
Federico Chiesa | 6 | 2 (2) |
Cody Gakpo | 10 | 2 (2) |
Alexander Isak | 6 | 1 (1) |
Florian Wirtz | 9 | 0 (1) |
Rio Ngumoha | 5 | 1 (0) |
Knowledge through Transfermarkt | ||
With a lot upheaval having taken place, there is a sense of ruefulness throughout the fanbase in regards to the deal to promote Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich earlier than the penultimate 12 months of his contract.
The truth just isn’t so easy, nevertheless it’s irritating to observe the 28-year-old achieve this properly in Germany nonetheless.
Liverpool could remorse promoting Luis Diaz
Changing Sadio Mane down the left flank at Liverpool was all the time going to be a tall order, however Diaz gave it a superb go throughout his three-and-a-half years on Merseyside.
Arriving from Porto in January 2022, the Colombian worldwide. He received the Premier League, two Carabao Cups and the FA Cup throughout his time in England.
Final season, having posted 17 objectives and eight assists throughout the 2024/25 marketing campaign, Diaz was instrumental for Slot, filling in at centre-forward in addition to his pure left-sided attacking position.
Now plying his craft for Bayern within the Bundesliga, Diaz has began off this new chapter in positive vogue, scoring six objectives and helping 4 extra throughout all competitions to this point. Terrific on the ball and scarily dynamic in assault, former Barcelona boss Xavi has hailed him as a “world-class footballer” with “blistering velocity”.
Ten aim involvements far eclipse that of Slot’s Liverpool crop, and whereas the Premier League sometimes proves harder than different divisions to unleash prolific performances on opponents with such consistency, it is nonetheless proof that Liverpool maybe jumped the gun together with his sale.
Liverpool’s imaginative and prescient is a daring one, and sporting director Richard Hughes has actually recruited first-team stars this summer time with the potential to see the membership dominate for a few years to come back.
However Diaz was an immense performer final season, ebbing and flowing in entrance of aim however all the time enjoying with focus and tenacity. He received the Premier League.
Given the early-season points Slot has confronted, you ponder whether he may miss the Colombian’s electrical presence, zipping across the last third.
