Liverpool has been ‘discovered’. At least, that’s what some of the discourse surrounding the Premier League champions’ shaky start to the season says.
Curiously, despite all the noise surrounding Liverpool’s struggles, they sit just one point behind leaders Arsenal after back-to-back defeats in the division. The heartbreaking defeat against Galatasaray in the Champions League was just an outlier.
But there is no doubt that Arne Slot and FSG have work to do. The Reds lack fluency and courage, and after a summer of record spending, the concerns are justified.
But, on the flip side, teething problems are not unusual, nor are they indicative of a player’s chances of long-term success at Anfield.
However, improvements are still needed in the future.
Liverpool’s new frontline
Liverpool lost at Stamford Bridge before the October international break. Codi Gakpo canceled out Moises Caicedo’s powerful first-half shot, but Slot’s side lacked consistency and confidence in the closing stages and were caught out by flickers from youngster Estebao Willian.
Tactically, the problems are widespread across the team, but the front line is still not performing to the usual standards expected of them, and Mohamed Salah’s struggles are a clear example of this.
So far, £69m striker Hugo Ekitike is the only one to be proud of, with Florian Wirths in particular having been in the spotlight since his new team-mate Alexander Isak made his move from Bayer Leverkusen for a record £116m.
Liverpool’s front line in 2025/26 | ||
|---|---|---|
player | app | Goal (assist) |
Hugo Ekitike | 10 | 5(1) |
mohamed is wrong | 10 | 3 (3) |
federico chiesa | 6 | 2(2) |
Cody Agate | 10 | 2(2) |
Alexander Isaac | 6 | 1(1) |
Florian Wirtz | 9 | 0 (1) |
Ngumoha River | 5 | 1 (0) |
Dates via Transfermarkt | ||
There has been so much uproar that there is a feeling of regret throughout the fan base over the deal that saw Luis Diaz sold to Bayern Munich two years after the end of his contract.
The reality is not so simple, but it’s still frustrating to see a 28-year-old player do so well in Germany.
Liverpool may regret selling Luis Dias
Replacing Sadio Mane on Liverpool’s left flank was always going to be a tall order, but Dias has done well during his three-and-a-half years on Merseyside.
Colombian national team player who joined from Porto in January 2022. During his stay in England, he won the Premier League, two Carabao Cups and the FA Cup.
Diaz, who recorded 17 goals and eight assists throughout the 2024-25 season last season, played an important role in the slot, playing not only in his natural attacking role on the left side but also as a center forward.
Currently showing his talent at Bayern in the Bundesliga, Dias has started his new chapter in great style, scoring six goals and providing four assists in all competitions so far. Former Barcelona manager Xavi praised him as a “world-class footballer” with “tremendous speed” who possesses great ball-spreading and frighteningly dynamic attacking ability.
The 10-goal involvement far exceeds Liverpool’s record for Slot, and although the Premier League usually proves harder than other divisions to produce such consistent performances against opponents, it is still evidence that Liverpool likely jumped at his release.
Liverpool’s vision is a bold one, with sporting director Richard Hughes securing a first-team star this summer who could help the club dominate for years to come.
However, Diaz had his ups and downs in front of goal last season, but he always played with concentration and tenacity, and showed great performances. He won the Premier League.
Given the problems Slott faced earlier in the season, you would think he would miss the Colombian’s impressive presence running around the final third.