Liverpool’s Troubling Start to the 2025-26 Season
The start of the 2025-26 season has left many Liverpool fans scratching their heads. A couple of weeks ago, the Reds sat undefeated at the pinnacle of the Premier League, boasting a five-point cushion over their rivals—an early season lead unseen in league history. Yet, a sense of unease permeated throughout the club’s supporters, as their victories often came by the skin of their teeth, with key goals scored late in matches.
As if to add salt to the wound, they have suffered two consecutive league defeats, with their latest losses coming from goals conceded in the dying minutes of games. Last season, Liverpool lost only two league matches in total before eventually securing the title, and now they find themselves in a troubling spiral, having lost to Galatasaray and Chelsea in their past three outings, a rare occurrence since 2023.
Managerial Challenges
Manager Arne Slot, facing his first career losing streak, has been actively attempting to rectify the situation. His changes in squad selection came even during their initial winning streak; he opted for an unorthodox lineup against Crystal Palace, beginning with last year’s attacking player Dominik Szoboszlai in a right-back position, and later sidelined Florian Wirtz, their record signing, in favor of tactical switches that have yet to bear fruit.
Concerns Over Mohamed Salah
The underlying concern stems from the current performance of Mohamed Salah, who has yet to resemble the prolific player Liverpool fans have come to expect. Despite previously being considered the world’s best player, his recent statistics indicate a sharp decline in his attacking contributions. Through the first seven matches, Salah’s output places him nearly on par with more inexperienced players in the league, indicating potential issues.
At this point last season, he had already accumulated more than double the non-penalty expected goals compared to his current total, which is alarming given his historical performance.
Offensive Participation and Team Dynamics
Critically, Salah’s offensive participation has significantly diminished, particularly with his touch frequency in the penalty area, which is down by nearly half since last season. Although some of this can be attributed to Liverpool’s reduced overall time spent in the attacking third, the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold—a key figure in Salah’s offensive strategy—has been profoundly felt. Together, the duo created one of the league’s most formidable partnerships, consistently generating high-quality chances through their interplay.
This season, Salah has struggled to establish chemistry with new signing Wirtz, who has yet to provide the same level of support or be effective in creating opportunities that Salah historically enjoyed. Rather than thriving as a traditional attacking midfielder, Wirtz’s role has been muddled, and this misalignment has hampered Salah’s effectiveness on the pitch.
Looking Ahead
As Liverpool endeavors to regain their form, it is essential that Salah re-establishes his connection with Wirtz and reinvigorates his goal-scoring capabilities. If he cannot adapt to their new setup or find a way to capitalize on his experiences, Liverpool’s championship ambitions may falter.
The current climate has left fans wondering whether Salah can return to form or if this represents a concerning step in a decline as he adapts to both age and an evolving squad. With a mere 45 passes made between Salah and Wirtz this season, the pressure is on for this pair to find rhythm quickly, an endeavor that could either invigorate Liverpool’s season or continue their downward spiral.
