After facing Sunderland on Wednesday, Liverpool will have 12 Premier League games left in the 2025/26 season to fight for a Champions League spot.

Currently five points behind Manchester United, who occupy fourth place, Arne Slot and his squad still have time to address the inconsistencies that have plagued their campaign.

A stark contrast to Slot’s debut

The current season is a far cry from Slot’s first year at Anfield in 2024/25, when Liverpool cruised to the Premier League title, finishing 10 points clear of Arsenal. Despite losing two of their final five games that season—a number equal to the two they had lost in the previous 36—the Reds had already secured the title, allowing the team to enjoy the remainder of the campaign.

With 86 goals scored and just 41 conceded in 2024/25, Liverpool were dominant. Yet, less than a year later, Slot’s tenure appears precarious.

Heavy investment, limited returns

Liverpool have invested heavily in new talent this season, spending over £100m each on Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, along with signings like Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, and Milos Kerkez. Expectations are high, and finishing outside the Champions League spots could place Slot’s future in jeopardy.

So far, Liverpool have scored 40 goals and conceded 35 in the league—both the second-worst among the top six teams—highlighting problems across the squad.

Defensive issues and van Dijk’s struggles

Liverpool’s defensive frailties, particularly early in the season, have been glaring. Strong early performances—including wins over Arsenal, Newcastle, and Bournemouth, plus a Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid—gave way to defeats against Galatasaray, Chelsea, Manchester United, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, and PSV.

Captain Virgil van Dijk has not been the rock he was last season. In 2024/25, he won 52.6% of tackles, made 226 clearances, and committed just one error leading to a goal. In 2025/26, he has 10 successful tackles from 18 attempts, 238 clearances, 169 headed clearances, and two errors leading to goals. While his duel success rate remains solid, his commanding presence has noticeably diminished.

Salah’s dip in form

Mohamed Salah, who scored 34 goals with 23 assists in Slot’s first season, has struggled this year. He has only six goals and six assists in 2025/26, with just 64 shots (20 on target) and a pass accuracy dropping to 65%. His penalty-taking has also declined, with only one scored from one attempt.

Problems beyond the stars

Liverpool’s struggles extend beyond van Dijk and Salah. The initial momentum Slot inherited from Klopp’s feel-good factor has faded, revealing limitations in squad depth, tactics, and formation. Recent results—draws against Burnley and late defeats to Bournemouth and Manchester City—underscore the need for a thorough review.

To restore their dominance, Liverpool must reassess every aspect of Slot’s management, from tactics to staffing, ensuring the team can return to the summit they conquered just nine months ago.