Liverpool have suffered a terrible run with their Premier League season imploding and some big names have come out with brutal criticism for the Reds and their biggest stars
07:45, 28 Oct 2025
Liverpool are in crisis under manager Arne Slot
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Liverpool are in crisis under manager Arne Slot
Liverpool's Premier League woes continue to mount as their losing streak and crisis under manager Arne Slot shows no signs of abating.
The Reds' 3-2 loss to Brentford on Saturday marked their fourth consecutive top-flight defeat - a low they haven't hit since 2021. The shock isn't just from the results, following a summer where the reigning champions splashed out a record-breaking £450million on new signings, but also the lacklustre performances that have left fans reeling.
Just a few weeks ago, Liverpool were sitting pretty with a five-point lead at the top of the table. Fast forward to late October, and it's Arsenal who are four points clear in second place, with Liverpool tumbling down to seventh.
The upcoming fixtures don't promise any respite for the Reds, who face Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Real Madrid in their next four matches across all competitions. Here's all latest news from Anfield.
Salah and Van Dijk under fire
Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk after Liverpool's loss to Brentford
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Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk after Liverpool's loss to Brentford(Image: PA)
Liverpool's troubles aren't confined to one player or one specific area, but Wayne Rooney has singled out Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk for negatively influencing their team-mates.
The former England skipper believes that as two of the senior players at the club, they've failed in their duty to guide the Reds, reports the Mirror.
Speaking on the BBC's Wayne Rooney podcast, he explained: "This can happen to teams and it can get them and it will creep up and then all of a sudden you're like, 'Where did that come from?' You're probably sitting here thinking three or four weeks ago, no one saw this coming.
"And it's hit them quick, it's hit them hard, and they're struggling to find a way out of it. This is the time where the manager, the leaders in the team need to figure it out very quickly. I'm a bit unsure. Van Dijk and Salah have signed new deals and whatever but I don't think they've really led that team this season."
When pressed on his assessment, Rooney pointed to the duo's demeanour as evidence for his conclusion: "Just performances and body language. I think body language tells you a lot. I think we're seeing a slightly different body language from the two of them.
"They are the top two players in that side and if their body language isn't right, that affects everyone else. Liverpool are in a bad place at the minute and when that happens, I can't explain it. It's so difficult, you don't know how to get out of it. You concede a goal and straight away you're thinking, 'Here we go again.'".
"It's such a hard thing to get out of. Best thing is to simplify things for each player and the manager. Simplify the performances with what you're doing. Normally, if you've got better players, you win the game, but it's not that easy."
Shearer's brutal verdict
Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate have not been at their best this season for Liverpool
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Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate have not been at their best this season for Liverpool(Image: SmartFrame/Every Second Media)
While the likes of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak are yet to find the net in the league for the Reds amid early struggles with the attacking chemistry, Shearer zeroed in on the woeful defence, conceding the centre-back pairing of Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate has been a massive let-down this campaign.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, the Newcastle United legend tore into the duo: "Say what you want about Liverpool in midfield or up front, but defensively, oh my word. The two full-backs have had a lot of stick and a lot of criticism.
"I understand that, but the two centre halves are all over the place. They have been terrible, and they were again at Brentford. They were awful, both of them, Van Dijk and Konate."
Richard Hughes urged to act
Liverpool manager Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes
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Richard Hughes and Arne Slot(Image: PA)
A valuable boost to the Liverpool backline would be the steadying influence of Marc Guehi, who came within touching distance of securing a switch to Anfield on deadline day before it fell through.
The England defender's exit from Crystal Palace next summer has already been confirmed by Oliver Glasner, but former Reds defender Glen Johnson has called on sporting director Richard Hughes and his colleagues to snap up Guehi at the earliest opportunity.
The 25-year-old has been courted by numerous European giants and with his capacity to agree a pre-contract deal with an overseas club in January, it appears Slot will need his hierarchy to battle for a player he nearly secured last month.
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In a chat with Ace Odds, Johnson stated: "Guehi, everyone's been speaking about him for a while. I think he's got all the credentials to slot in perfectly.
"More importantly for me, I think he's the right age to be able to do it with Van Dijk for a year or two. Whether Van Dijk has been himself or not is debatable.
"But in terms of being alongside someone you can learn an awful lot from playing with or training with or being in the dressing room with, that I think can be massive for Marc's future as well. The sooner you sign him, the better."