With another defeat on the road for Liverpool, the question that lingers is what reason does any fan have to believe that things will be better next time around?
Aston Villa 4-2 Liverpool
Premier League (37) | Villa Park
May 15, 2026
Goals: Rogers 42′, Watkins 57′, 73′, McGinn 89′; Van Dijk 52′, 90+2′
This exemplified why there is no faith in Arne Slot
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - Friday, May 15, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot applauds the travelling supporters after the FA Premier League match between Aston Villa FC and Liverpool FC at Villa Park. Aston Villa won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Watching Liverpool’s toothless attack, you could easily imagine how a summer in which reinforcements up top are sought could help change things for the better for this team.
But you were also given proof of why so few have faith in Arne Slot – because it is not just the frontline that is a problem in this team.
The fact is, there is not some huge shift in personnel coming in midfield and defence, and yet both of those areas have been shambolic for large parts of the campaign.
Here, they fell beyond that into downright disgraceful.
As such, without a change of coach, what reason does any fan have to believe that things will be better next time around?
Liverpool’s defensive woes underlined
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - Friday, May 15, 2026: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk during the FA Premier League match between Aston Villa FC and Liverpool FC at Villa Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Further to that point, how could it be possible that the addition of wingers might fix a defence that is Liverpool’s worst in over 100 years?
As Opta’s Michael Reid pointed out, the Reds have now conceded 52 Premier League goals this season, the most in a 38-game campaign since 1914/15.
This is a historically bad side in defensive terms, and there are no major plans to overhaul the backline, particularly if Ibrahima Konate eventually stays.
For that reason, you can expect that Liverpool will be just as easy to cut through when the next season begins.
Still work to do on set-pieces
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - Friday, May 15, 2026: Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister reacts to conceding his side's third goal during the FA Premier League match between Aston Villa FC and Liverpool FC at Villa Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
In losing here, Liverpool conceded their 19 and 20th goals from set-pieces in the Premier League this season – the worst record in the division.
And that underlined that they still have some way to go in terms of that aspect of the game, despite improvements in the second half of the campaign.
At the point Aaron Briggs was sacked, the Reds had scored three and conceded 12 for a set-piece goal difference of minus nine, while they have since scored 15 and conceded seven for a goal difference of plus eight.
That is, of course, an impressive turnaround, but there is still room for growth in terms of the defensive side, as they proved here.
Whether set-piece analyst Lewis Mahoney gets to head that up after doing some fantastic work in the second half of the campaign or an exterior appointment is sought, Liverpool have to get this right.
Giorgi Mamardashvili is a concern for Liverpool
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - Friday, May 15, 2026: Liverpool's goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili reacts to conceding the first goal during the FA Premier League match between Aston Villa FC and Liverpool FC at Villa Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
It is already clear that Liverpool need to make changes out wide, in midfield, and in defence when the summer window arrives, but might they also need to go into the market for a goalkeeper?
Alisson is attracting strong interest from Juventus and so could depart which, as things stand, would leave Giorgi Mamardashvili as first choice.
But it would be fair to say that the Georgian has yet to win over the fanbase, and he showed why that is the case at Villa Park.
Perhaps Alisson‘s ridiculous standards have clouded things, but Rogers’ opener looked saveable, as did plenty of the other goals all while Mamardashvili continued to struggle with the ball at his feet.
You still sometimes wonder if Liverpool might well wish they had bit the bullet on Alisson a season earlier and given Caoimhin Kelleher the chance he deserved.
How are you feeling about Champions League qualification?
MONACO, MONACO - AUGUST 29: A detailed view of the UEFA Champions League Trophy during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Group Stage Draw at Grimaldi Forum on August 29, 2024 in Monaco, Monaco. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Perhaps the only thing that might force FSG’s hand when it comes to Slot would be a failure to qualify for the Champions League.
And that feels like a genuine possibility from here given how poorly the Reds have played over the last few weeks.
A home game against Brentford is no gimme given the Bees won the first fixture between the sides this season, and both Brighton and Bournemouth are in good enough form to win their games and close the gap.
The most fitting ending to what has been a woeful campaign remains on the cards.