Liverpool invested heavily in the summer but have yet to reap the rewards, instead struggling for form and consistency, with seven defeats in the last 10 games leaving plenty to improve.
After a debut season to remember, Arne Slot is starting to set records that you did not want to see the light of day again, including losing four away league games on the spin for the first time since 2012.
There is no shortage of areas for Liverpool to improve, and without ado we list 15 here…
1. Start winning the physical battle
Slot preached that one of his non-negotiables last season was his side winning duels, but they have not been on the winning side of the count in six of the last 10 games – it’s no coincidence we’ve lost seven…
2. Stop conceding first
This is not a new issue for the club but is somewhat for Slot. In eight of the last 10 games, Liverpool have conceded first, turning only the setback at Frankfurt into a win.
It has seen Slot experiment with his lineup and the constant need to mount the energy to complete a comeback is doing nothing for the team.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Sunday, November 9, 2025: Liverpool's Florian Wirtz reacts to his side conceeding the third goal during the FA Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Liverpool FC at the City of Manchester Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
3. Give new signings the time to adapt
We have started to see Slot turn to Andy Robertson over the last week in place of Milos Kerkez, who needs time to settle and adapt – much like the Scot did when he first arrived.
Slot needs to be mindful of his new players and not be afraid of keeping them out of the side for their own good. A promising first step with Kerkez but it needs to continue.
Dominik Szoboszlai is often running for himself and a handful of his teammates all at once and you dread to think how worse things would be without the Hungarian.
It is time, though, for the No. 8 not to consistently be the shining light from matches, others need to step up to his level.
5. Find consistency
This one perfectly follows on from the above. Liverpool need to bridge the gap between their best and worst, with the performances against Real Madrid and Man City the perfect example.
Consistency wins you titles, but Liverpool are currently finding it a foreign concept.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 04: Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool gestures during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid C.F. at Anfield on November 04, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
6. Start winning the second balls
This ties in with the physicality point above, but deserves to stand on its own such has been Liverpool’s troubles with teams playing the long ball.
Liverpool have aerial dominance with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate but they lose the second phase, giving the opposition the impetus to attack the goal.
The German has found it tough, has admitted as much himself, but he will be damned by the stats watchers for having no goal contributions in the league and just two in Europe.
He’s created more than enough, though, and it is time his teammates helped take the pressure off by converting.
It’s evident Slot does not trust the Italian, despite his important contributions, but it is about time he put more faith in the Italian, as one of few who have shown a desire to perform.
There’s a balance between staying consistent with your team selection and rewarding effort, and the latter ought to come Chiesa’s way.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, October 19, 2025: Liverpool's Curtis Jones, Federico Chiesa and Virgil van Dijk celebrate their side's equalising goal scored by Cody Gakpo during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester United FC at Anfield. Man Utd won 2-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
9. Stop giving opposition encouragement from set pieces
While the Reds have excelled in scoring set pieces in the Champions League, they’re leaking goals from them in the league, conceding eight from dead-ball situations in 11 Premier League games.
Aaron Briggs has an important fortnight ahead of him.
In his first test of attrition after a disrupted summer, Isak’s body broke down and now Liverpool’s job is to get him into a position where he can have a consistent influence on the team.
If he can conjure up moments of magic, he may just help drag others with him.
LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 27, 2025: Liverpool's Alexander Isak reacts to the challenge by Crystal Palace's goalkeeper Dean Henderson during the FA Premier League match between Crystal Palace FC and Liverpool FC at Selhurst Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
11. Convert chances!
This one goes beyond just Wirtz’s deliveries, but rather an emphasis on making the most of big chances when they come. As per FotMob, no team has missed more in the league than Liverpool (24).
12. Start outworking the opposition
Liverpool reaped the rewards for outrunning Real Madrid, but too often they have allowed the opposition to run all over them, adopting a reactive rather than proactive mindset.
If these results are to change, Slot’s men need to start working harder.
13. Have a clear plan
Confusion has reigned supreme for much of Liverpool’s period of malaise, and Slot has balanced things out of late, but there still needs to be a clear plan for where this team goes next.
Which of the full-backs is pressing higher? Should Salah be moving more in-field? Is Wirtz ahead of Gakpo in the pecking order on the left? Is Szoboszlai staying in midfield?
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Sunday, November 9, 2025: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot before the FA Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Liverpool FC at the City of Manchester Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
14. Stop playing into hands of home side
In the eight away games in all competitions, Liverpool have lost five, kept one clean sheet and conceded first on five occasions – the standards have dropped.
It is OK for Anfield to be the stronghold, but there needs to be resilience in this side that does not allow their hosts to walk all over them when they’re on the road.
15. Say it how it is, Arne
Throughout last season, even with consistent victories, Slot was quite ruthless in his assessment, adopting a forthright approach to what parts of the game were not going to plan.
While he has identified issues publicly this season, he has swerved away from demanding more. He was more in the dumps for one Forest defeat than seven out of the last 10. Let us have it, Arne.