The fortress of invincibility that Liverpool built at the start of the season has developed visible cracks, with a third consecutive defeat—a crushing 2-1 loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge—prompting warnings of a full-blown “mini-crisis” and raising serious questions about the team’s balance and identity under Arne Slot.
The match, decided by a late winner from Chelsea’s Brazilian sensation Estevao, completed a devastating eight-day trifecta for the reigning champions. After a dream start to the 2025-26 campaign that saw them win their first seven matches across all competitions, the Reds have suddenly crumbled. The slide began with a surprising defeat to Crystal Palace, continued with a costly loss to Galatasaray in the Champions League, and culminated in Saturday’s London heartbreak, a result that allowed Arsenal to leapfrog them to the top of the Premier League table.
The nature of the performance has caused the most significant alarm. Former Liverpool midfielder and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp delivered a stark assessment, pinpointing a fundamental shift from the team that was so successful last season. “You can’t change too much and go away from what was so successful last year,” Redknapp stated during the broadcast. He focused his criticism on a suddenly porous midfield, which was “dissected” for Chelsea’s opening goal and has looked “too open all the time.”
“I get that at times you have to go man for man, but other times you have to mark space,” Redknapp explained. “That isn’t what Liverpool were last season. Everyone right now is just a bit off it, confidence is low.”
While refusing to write off his former club’s title chances, Redknapp did not mince words in diagnosing the current state of affairs: “This is certainly a mini-crisis because of the way they are playing.”
The team’s struggles were embodied by the continued absence of key players and the underwhelming form of their record signing. An injury to goalkeeper Alisson Becker has robbed the backline of its commanding presence, while the highly anticipated arrival of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen has yet to yield the expected returns. Wirtz’s difficult start to life at Anfield was further highlighted by his demotion to the bench for this crucial fixture, only entering the fray as a second-half substitute.
For manager Arne Slot, the international break arrives at a critical juncture. The initial euphoria of a perfect start has evaporated, replaced by urgent questions about his tactical setup. The team that once controlled games with a formidable midfield engine now appears vulnerable and disjointed. With the pressure mounting and Arsenal now setting the pace, Slot faces the formidable task of rediscovering the winning formula and steadying a ship that, just over a week ago, seemed unsinkable.
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