Liverpool’s defeat to Brentford wasn’t just an isolated hiccup for the reigning champions – it was the starkest evidence yet of a squad that’s lost its predatory edge. The Reds are trudging through a genuine crisis, having tumbled to seventh place in the Premier League after four consecutive defeats. This slump has revealed weaknesses in Arne Slot’s structure and sparked uneasy questions about whether last season’s title triumph was a display of brilliance or a bit of a fluke. With Arsenal pulling clear at the summit, Liverpool’s aura of invincibility is rapidly diminishing and whispers among supporters hint at deeper issues.
Sunday’s defeat pushed Liverpool’s goals conceded to 14 in only nine league fixtures – nearly three times the number at the same point last season. It’s also the first time they’ve lost four league games in a row since 2020/21 – a campaign overshadowed by a massive title hangover and questionable recruitment. Sound familiar? This time, however, it feels different, more self-inflicted. Complacency has crept in, intensity has waned, and too many key players seem off the pace. In short, the Reds are stuck in mediocrity and climbing out may require drastic measures. Here are three steps Slot must consider to arrest the decline at Anfield:
Drop Salah
Mo Salah’s late consolation goal against Brentford, brilliant as it was, merely masked the issues in his troubling recent performances. He used to terrify defenders just by drifting into space. But not anymore.
The Egyptian no longer bursts past opponents or provokes mistakes through movement alone. He has become easy to contain and predict, especially with his pace blunted and confidence faltering. Off the ball, Salah contributes very little. He presses less, tracks less and when he’s away from the box, his impact is minimal. For a Liverpool side built on intensity and energy, this is a real concern.
In truth, this isn’t a sudden issue. Even last season, Salah’s influence wasn’t as decisive as the stats suggest. Yes, he scored 29 league goals, but only eight genuinely changed games – winners, openers, or equalisers – most of the rest coming either with Liverpool comfortably ahead or from penalties.
That’s why it may be time for Slot to make a bold decision and remove him from the spotlight. Dropping Salah could be tough but healthy – a reminder that reputation alone doesn’t secure playing time. It would also open the door for Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz and even Rio Ngumoha to stake a claim and inject fresh energy into the attack.
Liverpool appear static at present, and sometimes the only way to trigger change is through radical, decisive action. Which brings us to the second suggestion…
Switch to a 3-4-3
If Liverpool’s defence continues to leak goals at this pace, change is inevitable. Moving to a 3-4-3 might give Slot’s team the defensive stability it desperately needs without blunting attacking ambition. With three centre-backs, the Reds could finally close the gaps that have been so easily exposed, particularly on the counter-attack.
This formation would also shield Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, two summer signings who seem far more effective going forward than defending. As wing-backs, they could exploit space and pace without constantly fearing defensive exposure. It plays to their strengths instead of highlighting their weaknesses.
In midfield, added protection from behind would allow a pairing like Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones – who deserves more minutes – to act as energetic ‘water carriers’, doing the hard work, pressing, tackling and quickly feeding the forwards. It would restore some of the bite and balance Liverpool have lacked since Jurgen Klopp’s era (more on that later).
Up front, there would be plenty of rotation options: Wirtz and Dominic Szoboszlai could share the inside-right role, while Hugo and Cody Gakpo rotate on the left. This setup would also prevent Alexander Isak from becoming isolated, with wide forwards tucking in as fullbacks hug the touchline. Liverpool need both structure and spark – a 3-4-3 could provide both.
Bring back the Gegenpress
Liverpool’s midfield has lost its bite. The engine room that once hunted in packs now drifts through games at half speed. The ferocious, suffocating press that defined this side has been replaced by a polite possession game – all slow build-up, no urgency.
Transitions that once were Liverpool’s biggest weapon now leave them vulnerable, turning control into chaos. This is not just a tactical problem but a cultural one. Klopp-era intensity wasn’t developed overnight – it was instilled daily, a mindset as much as a method.
Slot’s slower, more measured approach may look neat, but it has stripped Liverpool of their most vital trait: the relentless, collective energy that overwhelmed opponents before they could settle.
The solution isn’t complicated but will require effort. The manager must reinstate those pressing drills, revive the relentlessness that made Liverpool unstoppable. The Reds must snap at heels again – hunting in packs, forcing errors, setting traps. That’s how they used to smother opponents.
With no truly standout star in midfield, the fix isn’t to pretend there is one – it’s to rediscover the collective. Turn the unit back into tireless water carriers in the mould of Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum: players who win the ball, move it, and repeat. A proper No. 6 is still needed, but one step at a time.