The air around Anfield feels tense, almost electric. The once-celebratory atmosphere that used to follow every Liverpool victory has turned into a quiet murmur of anxiety. The defending champions are wobbling, and the fans can feel it. After a shocking run of five defeats in six matches, including four straight Premier League losses, Arne Slot’s Liverpool suddenly look vulnerable. What was supposed to be another title-contending season now hangs in the balance, and November could very well decide their fate.
It all started with that crushing moment at Selhurst Park — Eddie Nketiah’s last-gasp winner for Crystal Palace. It was the kind of late heartbreak Liverpool fans thought they had left behind in the Jürgen Klopp era. But since that day, the Reds have stumbled into chaos. Every defeat has brought new questions about their mentality, their tactics, and their ability to fight back. Slot’s bold, attacking style that once inspired optimism now feels like a gamble that isn’t paying off.
The latest blow came in west London, where Brentford ran riot and won 3-2. The performance was as messy as it was frustrating — Liverpool looked disconnected, particularly in defense, where miscommunication and rash challenges handed their opponents the advantage. Fans watched in disbelief as the reigning champions struggled to deal with simple long balls, a problem Slot himself publicly slammed after the match.
And now, as if form and fatigue weren’t enough problems, Liverpool face another headache — suspensions. Several key players are dangerously close to bans, and that could be disastrous in the coming weeks, with some of their most crucial fixtures ahead.
Under the FA’s rules, any player who picks up five yellow cards in their first 19 Premier League games receives a one-match suspension. After that, players who reach 10 bookings before matchweek 32 are hit with a two-match ban. It’s a system designed to enforce discipline — but for teams already struggling, it can quickly become a nightmare.
According to statistics from WhoScored, Liverpool already have two players sitting on three yellow cards each after just nine league matches — Milos Kerkez and Conor Bradley. The pair have been important to Slot’s system, providing energy and width from the full-back positions. But now, they are one booking away from suspension. If either gets another two yellow cards in the next 10 league matches, they’ll be forced to sit out a game — and given Liverpool’s defensive struggles this season, that’s the last thing Slot needs.
Behind them, the situation isn’t much better. Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, and Ibrahima Konaté have each collected two yellow cards already. That means just a few mistimed tackles or frustrated reactions could also push them toward suspension territory. It’s a dangerous line to walk — one Slot must manage carefully as he tries to rebuild his side’s confidence.
For context, Liverpool’s defensive structure has already been tested this season. Injuries to key players, coupled with rotation during European fixtures, have forced Slot to rely heavily on youth and new signings. The chemistry is still developing, and discipline becomes even more critical in such moments. A single ban could disrupt the fragile balance that still holds this team together.
Slot is well aware of this. Behind closed doors at the AXA Training Centre, reports suggest he’s been stressing the importance of composure. He knows how aggressive Premier League football can be, but he also knows Liverpool’s strength lies in control — controlling the ball, the tempo, and their emotions. One reckless challenge could be the difference between victory and another painful defeat.
But the fixtures ahead make that balance harder to keep. The next few weeks are brutal — and potentially season-defining. After their midweek Carabao Cup tie against Crystal Palace, Liverpool face Aston Villa and Manchester City in back-to-back Premier League games. Sandwiched between those league battles is a massive Champions League night at Anfield against Real Madrid — the same team that broke their hearts in Europe not long ago.
Those three matches could shape the narrative of Liverpool’s season. Win them, and the confidence will return. Lose them, and the cracks could widen into something far more dangerous.
After that intense run, Liverpool face what looks like a slightly more favorable set of fixtures — but with the way things are going, nothing feels easy anymore. Nottingham Forest, West Ham United, Sunderland, and Leeds United await, before the festive clashes against Brighton, Tottenham Hotspur, and Wolves close out the year. On paper, it’s a mix of winnable and tricky matches. In reality, every game now feels like a test of character.
And character is exactly what Liverpool need right now. The team that once terrified opponents with their intensity and unity now seem hesitant. The midfield that was rebuilt over the summer hasn’t yet clicked into perfect harmony. Szoboszlai, so explosive in the early games, looks tired and frustrated. Gravenberch is still adjusting to the pace of English football. Even the usually composed Konaté has looked uneasy in moments.
Slot’s system demands a lot — constant pressing, quick transitions, and fluid interchanges — but when confidence drops, those ideas can crumble under pressure. Brentford’s victory exposed that. They bypassed Liverpool’s press with long balls, knowing the Reds’ backline would struggle to track the runners. It was a tactical nightmare for Slot and a warning that his approach might need a rethink.
The Dutchman, however, remains defiant. After the Brentford defeat, he told reporters that his players must “trust the process” and “stay patient.” But patience is a rare luxury in football, especially at a club like Liverpool, where expectations are sky-high. The fans, spoiled by years of Klopp’s magic, are struggling to adapt to a new era that doesn’t yet have the same emotional pull.
The sight of yellow cards piling up doesn’t help either. It adds pressure to players already walking a thin line between passion and recklessness. Kerkez, still young and eager to impress, has sometimes overstepped in challenges. Bradley, another promising full-back, plays with aggression but can be rash in his tackles. Slot must decide whether to trust their energy or to protect them from suspension by rotating when possible.
It’s a tactical and emotional balancing act. In some ways, it mirrors Liverpool’s current season — so much potential, but one wrong step from collapse.
Yet, despite all the negativity, there’s still a sense of hope. Football changes quickly, and Liverpool have the quality to turn things around. Their attack, led by Mohamed Salah and Darwin Núñez, remains capable of punishing any defense on a good day. The midfield, while inconsistent, has moments of brilliance. And the fans, no matter how frustrated, remain among the most loyal and passionate in the world.
By Christmas, everyone will have a clearer picture of what this Liverpool team really is — champions-in-waiting rediscovering their fire, or a side in transition, learning hard lessons along the way. Slot will be judged not only by results but by how he handles this crisis, how he steadies the ship amid the storm.
For now, the message is clear: stay calm, stay disciplined, and fight together. Every tackle, every booking, every match matters. Liverpool’s destiny is still in their hands — but one more misstep, one more suspension, and their climb back to the top might become a mountain too steep to conquer.
