First, there was one blot on Arne Slot’s second-season copybook. Then two, then three, then four. Now, Liverpool are in a crisis, having lost five of their past six matches in the Premier League.
There is nothing damning about losing to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, but as the Sky Sports pundits rightly pointed out after the Reds’ 3-0 defeat, they lacked even the basic bones of an expected performance, and to say they toiled would be far too suggestive of any kind of work-rate.
This title defence is quickly becoming a muddy footslog for Slot’s side, who trail and have only the vestiges of last season’s fluency and coherence across the park.
To think of Slot’s side as title challengers at this moment of time would be deceitful. Not only are Liverpool eight points adrift of Arsenal at the summit, but they are so far away tactically that it’s simply unfathomable to imagine a string of the incredible form we have been witness to over the past decade.
It’s difficult to single out a single defining negativity at Liverpool, but Florian Wirtz has been the loudest talking point after his £116m transfer from Bayer Leverkusen in June.
Why Florian Wirtz is struggling at Liverpool
There are arguably been an uptick in Wirtz’s performances over the past several weeks. Certainly, the German international excelled during the win over Real Madrid after racking up two assists against Eintracht Frankfurt during the previous Champions League matchweek.
But, as with the rest of Slot’s Redmen, that good work has been undone by a wretched display at Man City, with the visitors totally outplayed by their rivals.
Wirtz wasn’t the worst player on the pitch, and in the first half, especially, he was bright, drawing fouls and catching the eye with fleet-footed bursts.
But it wasn’t enough, and the 22-year-old was swallowed up along with the rest of his side, failing to create a chance until he was hooked for Federico Chiesa late on, having faded after the interval.
This is hardly an Anfield side whose stability – or lack thereof – would allow a young playmaker to dovetail right in, but Wirtz has still got to account for his struggles, having now gone 11 matches in the Premier League without a single goal involvement.
And yet, he was regarded as “a truly generational talent” for his efforts in his homeland, as was said by sports media professional Cristian Nyari after Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen stormed their way to an invincible Bundesliga title, Wirtz crowned the division’s Player of the Year.
Hope and expectation remain that he will come good. However, long-term hope is fading regarding a more established part of the Liverpool squad. For this player, there is a growing sense that it might be better to part ways with him in 2026.
Liverpool's "serious, serious problem"
Slot has more than a few problems to wrestle with across the third international break of the season, and at the top of his pile of worries has got to be the form of Ibrahima Konate in defence.
Konate, 26, has been among the most concerning starters in Liverpool’s line-up this season, maybe even the worst of a bad bunch.
Konate’s time on Merseyside has been defined by ups and downs. He has struggled with injuries at different points since signing for the club in 2021, leaving RB Leipzig after his £36m release clause was activated.
There’s no question that he is a top-class defender, so strong and powerful and convincing as Van Dijk’s partner. Most of the time, that is. Not now.
Konate, a Premier League title winner, is becoming a significant worry. Liverpool do not have the depth in central defence to drop him, and yet, on current form, he surely cannot be allowed to play, as he is a threat to Liverpool’s own performance. Pep knew this on Sunday and targeted him, evidenced by Konate’s 88 touches compared to only 58 from the skipper.
And though he was largely imperious last season, the Frenchman has plummeted since the summer, and he might have hit the nadir against Man City.
After the game, Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley took to social media to label Konate “a serious, serious problem” for the struggling Premier League champions, with his mistakes and unconvincing displays now frequent symptoms of Liverpool’s wider decline.
With Virgil van Dijk now 34 years old, there is a real conundrum for sporting director Richard Hughes to chew on going forward, especially as Joe Gomez is clearly untrusted as a centre-half by Slot and summer recruit Giovanni Leoni is out for the campaign with an ACL injury.
Konate, after all, is out of a deal next summer, with Real Madrid at the top of his list of suitors. Given the star’s form this season, though, it wouldn’t be surprising if FSG felt they should part ways with the defender.
Minutes played
90′
Goals conceded
3
Touches
88
Accurate passes
70/75 (93%)
Possession lost
6x
Dribbles
0/1
Recoveries
3
Tackles won
0/0
Interceptions
0
Clearances
5
Duels won
3/8
Given the amount of pressure pushed against the France international, it’s curious that he failed to make an interception or even attempt a tackle against City’s rampant forwards.
The Liverpool Echo were unimpressed, handing Konate a match-low 4/10 score and commenting on his faults for the penalty, saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili, and Erling Haaland’s opening goal.
What do to about this quandary is up to Hughes and Slot and FSG, but the fans are getting fed up, and Konate may well be playing himself into a hole.
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