Liverpool’s dream of defending their Premier League crown has hit turbulence.
A crushing 3-0 defeat to Manchester City before the international break highlighted just how fragile the champions have become this season.
With seven losses in their last ten matches across all competitions, Liverpool now sit in eighth place—a position few expected at this stage.
Much of their struggle has been away from Anfield, where the team has repeatedly faltered against physical and direct opponents.
The Reds’ inability to cope with the Premier League’s demanding style has left fans and pundits worried about what lies ahead.
Carragher Sounds the Alarm on Defence
Jamie Carragher, the former Liverpool defender, has been outspoken about the squad’s shortcomings.
He believes that Arne Slot’s team, despite a record-breaking £450million summer spending spree, is still underprepared to mount a serious title challenge—or even guarantee a Champions League spot.
On The Overlap podcast, Carragher explained: “If we’re being honest, looking at the games they’ve lost and the type of games they’ve lost, they can’t handle the physicality of the Premier League.
Arne Slot wanted to move Liverpool toward more football, more goals, more entertainment. But the Premier League has gone back in terms of physicality, and this group of players isn’t equipped to win it this year.”
He added that the January transfer window could be critical: “Maybe in January they’ll need to recruit—more physicality, more pace, more power.
I think if Liverpool don’t sign a defender, they could miss out on the Champions League.”
The Failed Guehi Transfer Still Haunts Liverpool
Liverpool came painfully close to bolstering their defence over the summer when a £35m deal for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi nearly went through.
Guehi had passed his medical and was ready to move, but Palace pulled out at the last minute after failing to secure a replacement, leaving Liverpool scrambling.
Reports suggest the club may try again for Guehi next summer, with his contract running until 2026 and no extension in place so far.
In the meantime, the January window could offer another chance to strengthen the backline.
January Targets and Transfer Speculation
While defensive reinforcements are the priority, Liverpool have also been linked to Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo.
With a reported £65m release clause that activates mid-season, the Ghanaian striker has been catching the eye of multiple Premier League clubs thanks to an impressive campaign on the south coast.
Although the focus remains on shoring up the defence, questions are emerging over the impact of Liverpool’s summer signings.
Florian Wirtz, who arrived for £116m from Bayer Leverkusen, has yet to score or assist in the Premier League after 11 appearances.
German media outlet Sport Bild suggested that Mohamed Salah has been reluctant to link up with the new signing, preferring established teammates instead.
Liverpool Look Ahead
Liverpool will hope to turn things around after the international break.
Their next test comes against Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday, with the team seeking to close the yawning gap on leaders Arsenal.
After just 11 matches, the Reds already trail the Gunners by eight points—a deficit that emphasizes how urgent improvements are if they want to compete at the top.
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