Liverpool's struggles show that Trent Alexander-Arnold is not easily replaced

"It's not a crisis, not yet, but Liverpool's run of three defeats in a row is reason to take stock. It's true that the two league games in that run were both lost via last-minute winners, and that in isolation these three games could be explained away relatively easily. But context matters, and the truth is that while Liverpool won their first five league games of the season, they did not play well in them."

"New players are struggling to settle and Arne Slot's rejig of the formation has not really worked, while a number of regulars look out of sorts. Last season Liverpool won the league playing extremely controlled soccer, making 2-0 almost a trademark scoreline, establishing their lead and then running the clock down. This season there has been none of that, no sense of playing within themselves. They've been extremely open through midfield and most of their wins have come through late goals."

"There's been an unexpected wildness to them, almost as though Slot is going through his transition a season late. Introducing any new player to a side is fraught with potential issues. The player has to learn their environment and their teammates have to get used to them. Even in the best cases, dropping a new player into a functioning side will lead to a slight short-term drop-off."

"Adding five new players, as they did this offseason, means a lot of disruption. And, of course, this is a squad dealing with the tragic loss of Diogo Jota. Mohamed Salah's on-pitch tears after the final whistle of the opening game of the season were a reminder that this is a club in mourning. Soccer keeps going, as it must, but the impact of Jota's death is unpredictable and may be felt for a long time yet."

Liverpool's three consecutive defeats are not yet a full-blown crisis but require assessment. Two league losses came via last-minute winners and early wins masked poor performances. New signings are struggling to settle and Arne Slot's switch in formation has not found balance, leaving several regulars off form. Last season's controlled 2-0 style has given way to an open midfield and many late-winning goals, producing an unpredictable, wild edge. Integrating five new players has caused disruption, and the squad remains affected by the tragic loss of Diogo Jota, with emotional consequences likely to persist.

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