Liverpool loses two games in a row: what's breaking in Slot's team.

According to The Sun: The message from Liverpool is clear: don’t panic.

However, defeats to Crystal Palace and Galatasaray have revealed weaknesses in the team’s strong start of six wins this season.

Liverpool is experiencing a slight crisis after two consecutive defeats AFP Arne Slot has to answer a number of questions before the match against Chelsea this Sunday Getty

Deputy chief sports correspondent for SunSport Martin Lipton analyzes what went wrong for the 'Reds'.

CHANGES ARE NOT EASY

LIVERPOOL confidently claimed the title last season under Jürgen Klopp.

Slot has made some changes, the most significant being the use of Ryan Gravenberch as a key player, surrounded by Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister.

But the £450 million spent this summer aimed at significant restructuring.

New wing-backs Jeremy Frimpong and Miros Kerkez, spending on Florian Wirtz, British record for Alexander Isak at £135 million and £69 million for Hugo Ekitike.

The introduction of a new tactic involving a more active role for Wirtz in attack initially looked promising.

However, control began to slip away, leaving the defense exposed to counter-attacks starting from the first match against Bournemouth.

Liverpool looked hesitant, yet masked its weaknesses with late goals against Leeds, Newcastle, Arsenal, Burnley, and Atlético.

But when you walk a tightrope for weeks, sooner or later you'll fall.

Captain Virgil van Dijk admitted:

“We take risks to find a free player, but when we make mistakes, we get attacked and create danger.”

DEFENSIVE PROBLEMS

SIMILAR to the match against Palace on Saturday, Galatasaray exploited spaces behind Liverpool's defenders and unveiled their weaknesses.

Kerkez performed well during the match against Bournemouth, although Slot seems to have been reluctant to utilize natural right-back Connor Bradley, choosing either Frimpong, who previously played on the flank in Leverkusen, or Szoboszlai.

In Istanbul, the Hungarian looked confused and committed a rough foul on Baris Alper Yilmaz, resulting in a decisive penalty.

Liverpool fans are dissatisfied with Kerkez, who was substituted during the match against Burnley to avoid a red card and doubt whether he is an improvement compared to Andrew Robertson.

And in midfield, Ibrahima Konate's refusal to sign a new deal caused his hesitant start, as failing to sign Marc Guehi at the last minute appears to be a significant loss.

Slot will have to field goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili for the Chelsea match on Saturday as Alisson left the field with an injury in Turkey.

Even van Dijk has not escaped criticism and admitted:

“We were a bit careless.”

Getty Florian Wirtz has yet to find his form as he did in Leverkusen Reuters

IN THE CORE OF WIRTZ

THE GERMAN was signed to change the attacking dynamics of Liverpool, but transitioning from the Bundesliga to the Premier League has proven to be significantly more challenging than expected.

Wirtz cannot find the space he enjoyed in Leverkusen, and his confidence has noticeably dropped.

Including him in the lineup has shifted the team's balance, exposing weaknesses in two other players and hampering Mohamed Salah.

Asked about the German's contributions, Slot attempted to change the subject, responding:

“New signings always attract attention, and it’s quite normal considering the sum of money we spent on certain players.”

 

“But Florian has been present in dangerous moments many times.”

MO IS NOT ALWAYS

THE CONTRACT WITH SALAH, who signed a new deal last season, has become a huge advantage for Liverpool — fortunately, the Egyptian did not leave the club this summer.

Salah has been one of the best players in the Premier League over the last five years, and in the 2024-2025 season, he reached his peak, scoring 29 goals and providing 18 assists.

This season, however, his influence has significantly diminished despite key moments in matches against Bournemouth, Newcastle, and Burnley.

This, combined with the approach to the Stamford Bridge match, may have been the reason Slot decided to leave him on the bench for the first hour in Istanbul.

However, Frimpong did not become a proper replacement on the right.

Getty

DREAM REFEREES ARE NOT EASY

ISAK missed virtually the entire preseason due to a strike to force through his deal from Newcastle.

As a result, Liverpool signed a player who is not yet ready.

Considering that Ekitike joined the list of injured in Turkey, Isak will likely have to start against Chelsea — but Slot acknowledged that he is not ready to play 90 minutes at full speed.

Liverpool believes Isak is a guarantee of goals, but only when he reaches the necessary physical conditions.

Liverpool is currently facing serious problems: after unsuccessful matches in the Champions League, the team needs urgent changes to improve its results. The club's management must find ways to improve tactics and strengthen defense, as the toughest matches lie ahead. We will wait to see how Arne Slot adapts the team to the new challenges and whether it can regain confidence in its abilities in the nearest future.