Report: Key issues behind Liverpool’s struggles this term | OneFootball

Liverpool Season Under Spotlight as Key Issues are Examined

Liverpool’s campaign has unfolded under a cloud few could have anticipated. As highlighted in a report by The Telegraph, a convergence of footballing and human factors has shaped a season that feels far heavier than results alone.

From the Mohamed Salah storyline to major recruitment calls, from tactical imbalances to emotional trauma, the landscape around Anfield has been complex. Context matters when assessing a title defending side navigating turbulence on multiple fronts.

Salah Form Debate Intensifies

Salah’s influence remains central to Liverpool’s attacking identity, yet scrutiny has sharpened around his output. The numbers, as presented, frame the discussion starkly.

“Last season, Salah outperformed his expected goals [xG] by 3.6. This season he is underperforming his xG by 2. Other metrics related to creative moments on the pitch are also down, albeit by a smaller amount. He is still involved in games at the same level – he is simply not delivering the same outcomes at the scale he once did.”

Four league goals from 18 appearances has altered perception. Involvement remains high, chance creation still present, yet finishing efficiency has dipped. Evolution in his game has seen dribbling volume decline, offset previously by elite passing and chance generation. This season, those compensations have not translated into decisive moments with the same regularity.

Inside elite dressing rooms, output dictates narrative. Salah’s standards have been so extraordinary that any regression feels amplified.

Photo: IMAGO

Díaz Departure Leaves Tactical Void

Luis Díaz’s exit continues to reverberate. Contract negotiations reached an impasse shaped by sustainability models and wage structure discipline.

“You always miss good players,” Slot said of Díaz this week. “He was so important for us last season … Luis Díaz is another example of how this club is run. If this club gets for a 28-year-old an offer like that then this club, because it is built on sustainability, chooses to sell a player, and we are an exception in the Premier League.”

Statistics captured part of Díaz’s value, 13 goals and seven assists, yet his wider impact extended beyond data sets. His direct running, pressing aggression and ability to inject chaos into defensive lines created destabilising moments that metrics are only beginning to quantify.

Liverpool’s forward line has missed that volatility, that sense of unpredictability capable of tilting tight matches.

Photo: IMAGO

Recruitment, Injuries and Emotional Weight

The tragic death of Diogo Jota cast a profound shadow across the club. Emotional strain has been constant, influencing players and staff alike. Liverpool’s decision to continue supporting his family reflected institutional values beyond football operations.

His absence reshaped recruitment strategy. Rather than one striker, Liverpool moved for two, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike, record investments intended to secure long term attacking depth.

Injuries have compounded matters. Squad disruption has affected continuity, while January plans focused heavily on defensive reinforcement, including a move for Jérémy Jacquet.

Even there, misfortune struck again through injury setbacks, fuelling a sense that momentum has repeatedly been checked.

Tactical Balance Under Review

Set piece performance has emerged as a defining concern.

“The current Premier League is so much more about set-pieces than it was last season in terms of how important they are,” Slot said. “It is impossible to win the Premier League with a set-piece balance like ours. You need it to be plus-five up to plus-10”.

Margins at elite level are thin. Liverpool’s deficit in this phase has undermined control in tight fixtures.

Midfield dynamics remain largely trusted. Szoboszlai’s influence continues to draw praise, while Mac Allister’s early season dip has not triggered alarm internally.

Faith in Slot Remains Strong

Despite scrutiny, belief in Arne Slot endures. His win percentage, European pedigree and calm leadership style have reinforced internal confidence.

He has navigated squad turnover, emotional strain and tactical recalibration without public deflection. That composure has strengthened ownership backing, with Liverpool convinced they remain under elite stewardship.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

For Liverpool supporters, the themes raised land with mixed acceptance. There is recognition that Mohamed Salah’s finishing numbers have dipped, yet many fans would argue the broader attacking ecosystem has regressed alongside him. Chance quality, spacing between lines and collective movement have all felt less fluid than during the title winning campaign.

Luis Díaz’s exit continues to feel like a structural loss rather than simply a statistical one. His capacity to press, carry and disrupt gave Liverpool emotional as well as tactical momentum. Supporters often value that visceral energy as much as goals or assists.

Jota’s passing still sits heavily across the fanbase. Grief does not disappear when the whistle blows. It shapes mentality, preparation and unity in ways outsiders cannot fully quantify. Compassion for the squad remains strong.

Faith in Arne Slot endures; delivering the Premier League in his first season secured trust capital that has not evaporated. Fans recognise transition, injuries and emotional strain have complicated this year’s landscape.

There is frustration, certainly, particularly around set piece frailty and inconsistent finishing, but belief in the manager and core squad remains intact. Refinement, recruitment and renewed attacking cohesion feel like the next steps rather than wholesale change.