Liverpool’s Remarkable Start to the 2025-26 Season
Liverpool Football Club has made a remarkable start to the 2025-26 season, consistently delivering thrilling comebacks and securing dramatic last-minute victories. Under the guidance of manager Arne Slot, the team has achieved a remarkable feat—winning five consecutive matches, all of which have featured goals scored in the dying moments of the games. This includes an impressive four goals netted after the 90-minute mark, leading to the trending phrase “Slot time” on social media each time the team clinches a victory in such heart-stopping fashion.
Record-Breaking Performances
In an unprecedented achievement, all four of Liverpool’s Premier League matches so far this season have culminated in goals scored after the 80th minute—setting a new record for the league. This week’s thrilling 3-2 win against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League also marked a continuation of this trend, with the club demonstrating a flair for clutch performances.
No other team in Europe’s top five leagues has matched Liverpool’s ability to come from behind and secure late winners over the past 15 years. The Reds’ success in this department is notable as Wednesday’s encounter against Atlético became the first instance since the 2012-13 season where any major European club has recorded five consecutive victories, all with goals netted in the final ten minutes of matches before the month of October.
Chasing Records
Liverpool is within striking distance of the Premier League record for late winning goals in a season, which is set at seven and is shared by several clubs including Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. Conversely, the all-time European record belongs to Barcelona, who managed an impressive nine late goals in La Liga during the 2023-24 season.
Late-Game Heroics
While some may debate the sustainability of consistently achieving such dramatic finishes throughout a season, it seems like late-game heroics have become a trademark of Liverpool’s current gameplay style. The term for “final phase” in Dutch perfectly encapsulates the essence of their recent matches.
Highlights of the Season
In specific encounters this season, Liverpool’s performances have been nothing short of spectacular:
- In their first match against Bournemouth, Federico Chiesa found the net in the 88th minute, but it was Mohamed Salah’s stoppage-time goal that secured the 4-2 win for Liverpool.
- A thrilling match against Newcastle saw Liverpool’s 2-2 equalizer come in the dying moments, as 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha scored the deciding goal in the 90+10 minute, making history as the youngest scorer for the club.
- Dominik Szoboszlai’s stunning free-kick in the 83rd minute clinched a tense match against Arsenal, bringing Liverpool a 1-0 victory.
- Against Burnley, a penalty taken by Salah in the 95th minute granted Liverpool a narrow 1-0 win after relentless pressure.
- In the Champions League, Virgil van Dijk emerged as a crucial player, scoring a header from a corner kick in the 90+2 minute to secure a 3-2 victory against Atlético Madrid.
Liverpool’s consistent late-game successes this season exemplify the squad’s resilience and determination, and the footballing world is watching to see how long this thrilling trend can continue.
