“With such a record, it is impossible to finish in the top four, five”

Before Christmas, the team gave the fans three consecutive victories. However, they have not been able to erase the feeling of a season below expectations so far, especially after a transfer campaign of more than 500 million euros in the summer.

Arne Slot: “It's very frustrating”

Ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash with Wolverhampton, manager Arne Slot was keen to draw attention to his side's biggest weakness in 2025-26: set pieces.

“Given our record at set stages, it's impossible to finish in the top four or five, let alone win the championship,” the Dutch technician pointed out.

Slot continued: “It's very frustrating that we are where we are this season. Halfway through last season, we hadn't conceded a single goal from set-pieces“. A quick look at the numbers confirms the manager's theory. This season, Liverpool have already conceded eleven goals from set-pieces, while scoring just three from such situations.

This weakness cost the “cormorants” quite a few points. They are 5th in the standings and 10 lengths behind leaders Arsenal. Even 3rd placed Aston Villa are 7 points ahead of them. And more recently, the champions also have personnel problems.

Arne Slot: “It's time for the players we have available to roll up their sleeves”

Mo Salah is at the Africa Cup of Nations, Alexander Isak will be out for 4 months after fracturing his fibula. Joe Gomez is unavailable due to muscle problems, and former Bundesliga players Wataru Endo (ankle) and Dominik Szoboszlai (suspended) will also not be available for Arne Slot against bottom-placed Wolverhampton. A question mark exists over Cody Gakpo and Conor Bradley.

The Dutch technician, however, expects those in full strength to give their best to get out of this situation: “It's time for the players we have available to do what they have done so many times before and roll up their sleeves. The fit players have to give it their all“.