Liverpool Football Club, a team synonymous with relentless energy and European pedigree, finds itself mired in one of the most challenging periods in recent memory. As of October 22, 2025, the reigning Premier League champions are reeling from a string of four consecutive defeats across all competitions, their worst run since November 2014. The pressure is mounting, both on and off the pitch, as the Reds grapple with tactical uncertainty, transfer speculation, and even logistical chaos ahead of a crucial Champions League fixture.
It all began to unravel after a promising start to the league campaign. Liverpool, who had a perfect record after five matches, have since stalled, remaining on 15 points after eight games. Arsenal now lead them by four points, a gap that is not insurmountable but is certainly alarming given Liverpool’s recent form. The most recent setback—a 2-1 defeat at home to archrivals Manchester United—exposed not only the team’s defensive frailties but also the growing sense of unease surrounding manager Arne Slot’s tactics and squad choices.
Slot, who guided Liverpool to the league title just last season, now faces the toughest test of his tenure. The Dutchman’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, with Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister as the double pivot, has failed to provide the necessary balance. Mac Allister, typically a metronome in midfield, has struggled to dictate play, and the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold has further diminished the team’s creative output from deep. As a result, Liverpool have conceded 11 goals in the Premier League—more than any other team in the top eight—a statistic that speaks volumes about their current plight.
Adding to the tactical conundrum, Liverpool’s attacking talisman Mohamed Salah has not been his usual self this season. The 33-year-old Egyptian, once the heartbeat of the Reds’ forward line and a club legend by any measure, is enduring a dip in form. With Harvey Elliott no longer in the squad, Salah has been forced to log more minutes, but his performances have yet to reach the heights Liverpool fans have come to expect. The calls are growing for Federico Chiesa, the dynamic Italian winger who has made 21 appearances for the club, to be handed a starting berth in Salah’s place. At this juncture, giving Chiesa a run in the first XI could inject much-needed pace and unpredictability into Liverpool’s attack.
Up front, the situation is equally fluid. Hugo Ekitike, Liverpool’s top scorer this season with five goals in 11 matches, has made a compelling case to start ahead of Alexander Isak. Ekitike’s explosive pace and clinical finishing have been a rare bright spot, especially when compared to Isak’s struggles to convert chances and make an impact in the final third. Meanwhile, Cody Gakpo’s form has been one of the few constants, making the Dutchman undroppable in Slot’s eyes.
There are growing calls for Slot to abandon the 4-2-3-1 in favor of a more aggressive 4-3-3 setup, particularly against lesser opposition. The proposed shift would see Gravenberch anchoring the midfield as a lone defensive midfielder, flanked by Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones as energetic No. 8s. This tactical tweak aims to restore mobility and dynamism in the center of the park—key ingredients that have been sorely lacking during Liverpool’s recent slump. Against weaker teams, taking such a risk might be necessary to reignite the Reds’ attacking spark.
But Liverpool’s woes are not limited to on-field matters. The club was thrown into further disarray on October 21, 2025, when their chartered flight to Frankfurt for a pivotal Champions League clash was delayed by nearly four hours due to a technical issue. The team, stranded at Liverpool John Lennon Airport, eventually departed at 7:51 p.m. BST, forcing the cancellation of Arne Slot’s much-anticipated pre-match press conference at Deutsche Bank Park. The delay technically put Liverpool in breach of UEFA’s Article 48 regulations, which mandate that teams arrive the evening before matches to fulfill media obligations. However, given the circumstances, sanctions appear unlikely—Arsenal faced no punishment for a similar delay last season.
Despite the travel disruption, Slot remained resolute. "No, it will not impact the build-up to tomorrow’s game. We have trained over here at the AXA; normally we would have gone to Frankfurt a few hours earlier, now we are a few hours later. That can never be an excuse for the game tomorrow," Slot told UEFA.com, signaling his determination to keep the focus on football rather than logistics.
Yet, the challenges extend beyond the technical area. Liverpool’s squad depth is under scrutiny, particularly at left-back. Andrew Robertson, once a mainstay in the starting XI, has been relegated to a supporting role following the arrival of Milos Kerkez. The Scottish international was heavily linked with a summer move to Atletico Madrid, and now, according to reports, the Liverpool board has decided to sell Robertson in the January transfer window rather than risk losing him for free at the end of the season. Atletico remain interested, and while Robertson’s experience and trophy haul make him an attractive proposition, his departure could leave Liverpool dangerously thin at left-back—especially with Kerkez still adapting to the rigors of English football.
Many within the club and fanbase are concerned that offloading Robertson in January could prove to be a grave miscalculation. With Liverpool already struggling for form and leadership, losing a player of Robertson’s caliber and influence might further destabilize an already fragile dressing room. Ideally, the Reds would seek to extend his contract and orchestrate a summer sale, but the January window looms large, and decisions must be made swiftly.
Meanwhile, the pressure is mounting on Liverpool’s summer signings. Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, both acquired at significant expense, have yet to fully settle or justify their price tags. Injuries, most notably to first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker, have compounded the team’s defensive vulnerabilities, making the job of captain Virgil van Dijk and his backline all the more daunting.
As Liverpool prepare to take on Eintracht Frankfurt in a match that could define their European campaign, the stakes could hardly be higher. The Reds are fighting not just for three points, but for the very momentum and belief that have deserted them in recent weeks. With history beckoning—Liverpool have not lost five straight matches since September 1953—Wednesday’s showdown in Germany is about more than just results. It’s about restoring pride, confidence, and the sense of invincibility that has been the hallmark of this great club for decades.
With the Champions League tie against Frankfurt now upon them, all eyes will be on Arne Slot’s team selection, tactical adjustments, and the players’ response to adversity. The road back to winning ways will not be easy, but if Liverpool can weather this storm, they might just emerge stronger on the other side. For now, the action continues, the questions linger, and the world watches as Liverpool seek to reclaim their place among Europe’s elite.
