Liverpool entered the 2025-2026 season with great expectations after spending up to 484 million pounds in the summer, bringing in 7 new players, including 2 blockbuster deals Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz. However, the reality was much more severe when the 0-3 defeat to Man City right before the international series, causing the "Red Brigade" to fall 8 points behind the leader.
Quality rookie squad but not yet operating smoothly
Bringing in many stars at the same time has caused Liverpool to face the problem of integrating. Isak - a £ 130 million contract is being overshadowed by Hugo Ekitike, who has a price of only half but is overwhelmingly effective. Meanwhile, Wirtz showed promising qualities but also needed more time to adapt to the intensity of the Premier League.
However, the most worrying thing is still the defense. Liverpool have the 7th worst defensive record in the league, an alarming statistic for a team that has built its reputation on solidity. Captain Virgil van Dijk has been heavily criticized for his declining form and many direct errors.
Transfer mistakes and the central defender problem
Analysts have repeatedly confirmed that Liverpool will be forced to buy a central defender in January 2026. In the summer of 2025, The Kop did not bring in a truly quality center back. The only signing for this position is young Italian talent - Giovanni Leoni. However, Leoni suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and missed the rest of the season. This puts Liverpool at risk of a system collapse if another injury occurs in the center of the defense.
Some of the players on the bench last season, such as Tsimikas and Quansah, were not in Arne Slot's long-term plans, which led to their departure last summer. Therefore, the depth of the squad in the defense is considered Liverpool's weak point for the rest of the season.
Un Understanding deals: Isak and Ekitike play in the same position
Liverpool's most controversial point in the transfer window was spending huge sums of money on Isak and Ekitike - two players who tend to move and play quite similarly.
This is a step unlike Liverpool in previous years when transfer efficiency was always a top priority. This past summer, The Kop spent money in a "ough-buy" way. When two contracts worth hundreds of millions compete directly for a position, waste is inevitable.
The Premier League is far away, should Liverpool bet on the Champions League?
With more losses than last season in just 11 rounds, Liverpool's ability to compete for the Premier League title is becoming far away. In that context, the Champions League could become the most important lifeline.
The Sky Sports, Arne Slot has a special passion for the most prestigious arena in Europe. Last season, Liverpool only stopped against champions PSG and that made Slot even more eager to conquer the Champions League. The Dutch coach sees this arena as the next step after bringing Liverpool back to the Premier League throne.
With creative contracts like Wirtz or high-class strikers like Isak, the current Liverpool squad is in line with the goal of going deep in the European Cup. However, to do that, the defense needs to be reinforced immediately. It is impossible to expect the Champions League to be on a team that can crash the game at any time due to a lack of quality centre-back.
January is the survival transfer period
Liverpool, despite spending big, still lacks a key piece. The addition of a central defender is not only necessary, it is also mandatory if he wants to save the season. Slot has clearly defined the playing style, but to reach the level of perfection and be competitive enough in the Champions League, they must immediately increase their force.
With the current situation, just one defensive injury could have ruined Liverpool's entire season.
