Liverpool in turmoil: From defeat against Galatasaray to the challenge of Chelsea

02/10/2025 17:53:00 soccer

Sometimes football doesn't provide clear answers as the match result might suggest. Questions like why the English champions could lose such a game against an opponent just recently returned to the Champions League after many years are entirely pointless.

Signs of Liverpool's struggles

Man City's comprehensive defeat last season serves as a historical reference when comparing it to Liverpool's current situation. Of course, even when considering similarities and differences, there are very few common factors in how crises formed in both teams.

Because Liverpool has overhauled their squad much faster than City. Even from the start, Liverpool could still win the Premier League despite a "limited" squad and having a new manager like Slot.

This season, the Dutch coach has restructured the English champions' playing system with a host of new players. The early-season winning streak, often secured by late goals, does not fully reflect the problems that have emerged during this period.

The issue lies in an unstable defense, careless play, and inability to keep pace with opponents' speed in crucial moments within their own final third, especially during counterattacks, similar to how Man City faltered. Liverpool’s two defeats came against clever opponents who exploited weaknesses in the Reds’ defense. The loss in Istanbul can be explained by Slot’s surprising decision to play Jeremie Frimpong as right winger instead of Salah, while Dominik Szoboszlai was deployed as right back behind him.

The Hungarian midfielder endured a nightmare night facing Baris Alper Yilmaz’s pace and was responsible for conceding the penalty that led to the team’s defeat. The same can be said about the entire Liverpool lineup in the first half, particularly Konate, the weakest and most vulnerable link in the red team in every match.

Poor performance at both ends of the pitch will worry Liverpool’s coach more than the result itself. This could repeat in the Premier League clash against Chelsea this Saturday evening.

Because in the harsh environment they created due to lack of organization (which surprised Slot) in both attack and defense, Liverpool have become disjointed, lacking cohesion, losing control, and vulnerable to fast opponents like the Blues, who can punish their mistakes.

Liverpool head into their Premier League meeting with Chelsea this weekend on the back of two successive defeats.

Chelsea struggling

Chelsea currently are not the team that brings much joy like when they crushed PSG in the FIFA Club World Cup final. It was a tough evening for supporters of the Blues.

Due to the strange lineup choices by coach Enzo Maresca, who once again made shocking decisions similar to those in the recent loss to MU, the players delivered a mediocre performance. Chelsea won thanks to a chaotic own goal, providing a difference against Jose Mourinho’s Benfica.

They might improve, but this was not a good showcase for their ambitions to progress far in the Champions League. Early on, Chelsea faced problems similar to those Liverpool experienced in their last two games. Thus, their attempt to overcome injuries and poor form against the Portuguese side can be explained by an uninspired, low-quality, lucky, and occasionally explosive display.

Nervousness still haunts Enzo Maresca’s young players. The Blues have received three red cards in their last four matches, and Joao Pedro’s two consecutive yellow cards after coming on for Tyrique George in the 61st minute show a poor psychological state. This is serious considering injuries have already sidelined Liam Delap and Cole Palmer.

Maresca has shuffled his squad looking for options. This is a time for rotation and resting key players. Alejandro Garnacho, Facundo Buonanotte, and Tyrique George, who rarely start up front, all played from the beginning against Benfica.

The problem is not about tactics or rotation, but that the Blues are struggling to regain form or play at a high level due to the absence of key players and simply lacking coordination at this moment.

However, it might be unavoidable to partly focus on Liverpool ahead of the Benfica match. Under pressure from consecutive defeats, Chelsea are determined to bounce back quickly. Losing to Liverpool in the Premier League this weekend would make their goal of re-entering the title race even more difficult.

See more English football news HERE Liverpool pay the price for Slot’s mistakes 02/10/2025 05:57 Florian Wirtz: From sensation to Liverpool disaster 01/10/2025 11:18 Chelsea star pelted with bottles by fans, Mourinho steps in to rescue 01/10/2025 09:42

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