In addition to a series of problems that are hampering Liverpool in the early stages of the season, there is a simple but easily overlooked truth - the reigning Premier League champions have to go through an extremely harsh schedule.
According to statistics from Opta, when assessing the difficulty of each team's first 5 matches in the Premier League, Liverpool is in fifth place, just behind Manchester United, Arsenal, Bournemouth and Everton.
Arsenal are commended for overcoming a difficult away run at Old Trafford, Anfield and St. Petersburg. James' Park. However, coach Arne Slot's team also went through a challenging opening period. These are all teams in the group with high performance or considered the most difficult in the tournament.
In the 7 matches played in the Premier League this season, Liverpool have to face 5 out of 8 teams in the top group of the rankings. Of course, it is too early to draw a conclusion as the rankings are still unstable, but it is clear that The Kop have gone through a series of harsh starts. They have to constantly face teams with high performance. Notably, the "Red Brigade" has only met one team in the bottom 6 teams - Burnley (away).
In contrast, Arsenal have a significantly easier fixture schedule. 3 of the 6 bottom teams - Nottingham Forest, Leeds United and West Ham - have all traveled to Emirates Stadium. Meanwhile, only 2/7 of Arsenal's matches have been against teams in the top 8 (losing to Liverpool away and drawing with Man City at home).
However, it is undeniable that the "Gunners" are playing impressively. According to Opta statistics, Arsenal is currently the strongest candidate for the Premier League title.
On the contrary, Liverpool showed signs of imbalance and were easily exploited in defense. Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta's team has proven stable, cohesive and has a tight tactical organization. With a favorable upcoming schedule, The Gunners can completely create a safe gap in the rankings.
However, the season is still very long. From 22 November 2025 to 3 January 2026, 7 out of 9 matches of Liverpool will be against opponents in the bottom half of the rankings. If Arne Slot's team can stick close to Arsenal until then, they still have a chance to return to the championship race.
Conversely, if The Kop cannot fix the problems that have existed since the beginning of the season, they could soon be left behind. And then, all investment efforts in the summer will become meaningless.
It is impossible to evaluate Liverpool's start of the season without mentioning the chaos and huge losses they have to go through in the summer of 2025.
The sudden passing of Diogo Jota, a player who is loved by his teammates and fans, has deeply affected the whole team. Although it is difficult to measure how that mental pain affected his performance, it is clear that this loss left a lasting impression. Captain Virgil van Dijk also partly admitted that after the loss to Chelsea.
"This season has always been a difficult season. I have said this from the beginning. We have to overcome it together, not only as players but also with the coaching staff, and the fans who celebrated the championship. That is something we should not forget" - the Dutch midfielder shared.
