Liverpool’s defense has proven to be their fatal weakness this season.

20/10/2025 12:14:00 SportScoop

Coach Arne Slot must quickly find answers to Liverpool’s defensive problems if he wants to keep hopes alive for a major trophy this season.

The 1-2 defeat against Manchester United in the 8th round of the Premier League served as a warning about Liverpool’s current performance. It was the first time Manchester United defeated Liverpool at Anfield since January 2016. Arne Slot also became the next Liverpool manager, after Brendan Rodgers in November 2014, to lose four matches in a row.

In this game, Liverpool’s two most promising forwards, Salah and Isak, once again disappointed. The Swedish striker had his first on-target shot in the Premier League for Liverpool in the 35th minute, but it was saved by goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Salah then missed a golden opportunity and was almost invisible against his favored rival. While the attack lacked efficiency, the defense remains the greatest worry for Arne Slot’s team at the moment.

The defense — once the solid foundation that secured Liverpool’s Premier League title last season — is now gradually falling apart during this intense period. Against Manchester United, Liverpool fans could hardly believe that despite 19 shots and 6 on-target attempts, the team still suffered defeat. It was the defense that extinguished Liverpool’s chance to revive in the second half, even though they dominated the game.

It is not the attack but the defense that is truly Liverpool’s weakness this season.

Mistakes that Liverpool’s coaching staff believed had been fixed after the international break, including defending set pieces, reoccurred, causing the reigning champions to fail to secure even a single point. In the 84th minute, Harry Maguire was one of three United players completely unmarked behind Ibrahima Konate and easily headed in the decisive goal. Notably, this was the fifth time this season Liverpool has conceded from a set-piece situation.

Liverpool’s ability to defend open play also frustrated Arne Slot. Virgil van Dijk’s weak headed clearance gave Bruno Fernandes too much space to control the ball and thread a pass to Amad Diallo, who broke down the right flank. Both Milos Kerkez and Van Dijk struggled to mark Mbeumo, allowing the Manchester United player to sprint forward and score from a tight angle, beating Giorgi Mamardashvili just two minutes into the match.

On the left flank, Milos Kerkez is also underperforming. Manchester United continuously targeted Kerkez, turning the match into a difficult day for Liverpool’s left-back. He was out of sync with Van Dijk and frequently troubled by both Mbeumo and Diallo. In fact, one of his poor clearances nearly set up Mbeumo for a shot.

Liverpool has conceded 11 goals in 8 Premier League matches this season, averaging 1.37 goals per game. In the 38 matches of the 2024/2025 season, that number was 41 goals, averaging 1.07 per game. Among the top six teams this season, Liverpool currently has the worst defense. The worrying defensive form raises a question for Arne Slot: how can they defend their title with such an unstable backline?

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