Liverpool

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  1. Liverpool v Crystal Palace: Team newspublished at 18:58 GMT 29 October

    Liverpool line-up

    Arne Slot has rotated his Liverpool squad, with 10 changes from the side that began the 3-2 loss at Brentford at the weekend.

    Milos Kerkez is the only one to stay in the team, which includes 17-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha and 18-year-old midfielders Trey Nyoni and Kieran Morrison.

    Goalkeeper Freddie Woodman makes his first competitive start for the Reds following his summer move from Preston.

    Captain Marc Guehi starts in defence for Crystal Palace, who have not changed their side as much as their opponents.

    Walter Benitez is in goal in place of Dean Henderson, while Eddie Nketiah starts up front, with Jean-Philippe Mateta among the substitutes.

    Crystal Palace line-up
  2. Follow Wednesday's Carabao Cup games livepublished at 18:30 GMT 29 October

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    There are five Carabao Cup games on Wednesday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

    Kick-off times 19:45 GMT unless stated

    Follow all of the action and reaction here

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  3. Could Slot be in trouble?published at 17:03 GMT 29 October

    Q&A with Phil McNulty banner

    Chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions on all things Premier League.

    Paul asked: With Palace, Villa, Real Madrid and Man City coming up would, say, three more defeats put Arne Slot under real pressure? Liverpool don't sack managers easily, but surely if this run of form persists then even the most successful manager could be in trouble.

    Phil answered: Slot is under the same pressure as every Liverpool manager – and that is the pressure to win games. Pressure for his job? Not a chance.

    Slot won the title in his first season after succeeding Jurgen Klopp, and while he needs wins as quickly as possible, Liverpool is not the sort of club to panic, even if the next sequence of results go badly.

    I would agree, however, that they need to show signs of becoming more resilient and balanced, because I think they are a dysfunctional, soft touch at the moment. And, Hugo Ekitike apart, their big signings have not yet delivered.

    Slot however still has plenty of credit in the bank and Liverpool is a calm club internally, not given to hasty, panicky decisions, certainly not when it involves a manager who won the Premier League last season.

    Jack then asked: I'll follow up on the question about Slot being under pressure. Do you think that if nothing has changed by Christmas, he will be under heavy scrutiny and could be on the verge or even have been sacked? Considering his current squad, I'd say it's very likely.

    Phil answered: Of course, Slot would be under heavy scrutiny if the current dreadful run continues until Christmas, as any manager of a club of Liverpool's stature would be. He would be under pressure – but not, in my opinion, for his job.

    Liverpool's owners are measured. They saw Slot win the title in his first season and I am sure there will be an acceptance and understanding that there has also been a lot of change in the summer.

    What he needs now is for established stars and new acquisitions to simply play better. He also needs to find his best team as I am not sure he actually knows.

    I also think the presence of both Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak gives him a conundrum, on how to best utilise those two players. So far Ekitike has delivered. Isak has not.

    Follow along with the rest of today's Phil McNulty Q&A here

  4. 'A club that the community should feel very proud of'published at 17:01 GMT 29 October

    Kenny Dalglish and his wife Marina at a service held in memory of those who died at HillsboroughImage source, Getty Images

    Sir Kenny Dalglish, speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside's Phil Munns about the strength of the Liverpool community in the aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster:

    "When Hillsborough happened every department; upstairs, the players, the coaching staff, the rest of the fans - it was fantastic, the way they all got together. And then when we got to meet the families, it was our turn to be supporters. They supported us many times when we really needed them. They were there.

    "Both Marina [Dalglish] and myself were brought up in Glasgow, parents with similar values, rights and wrongs, respect for people. You help people if they're having a bad time or if something awry happens, you try your best to help them. And that's all we tried to do in the football club.

    "The club's a club that the community should feel very proud of, and we've proved that when we came out to do it, and we tried our best to be as helpful as we possibly could. But there's nothing we could have done that could have replaced the loss."

    Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

  5. Defeats 'further fuel our motivation' - Slotpublished at 14:30 GMT 29 October

    Arne Slot and Virgil van Dijk speak during matchImage source, Getty Images

    Liverpool boss Arne Slot says they "should be hurt" by recent results as they look to turn their poor run of form around against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup later on Wednesday.

    The Reds succumbed to their fourth successive Premier League defeat when they lost 3-2 to Brentford on Saturday.

    After five wins in a row had left them clear at the top of the table, they are now seventh and seven points behind leaders Arsenal.

    "It goes without saying that our recent form has not reached the standards that you expect of us or that we expect of ourselves. This is, of course, a major disappointment, especially given the positive start we made to the season," Slot wrote in his matchday programme notes.

    "Our responsibility is to recognise what is happening and put things right. There is no other option.

    "Part of this process involves being hurt. We should be hurt by results like Saturday's when we lost to Brentford, and we should use the feelings this creates to further fuel our motivation.

    "Not that anyone could accuse the players of a lack of effort - if anything, the opposite is true - but how we use this effort and desire is what will make the difference."

    Crystal Palace are familiar recent foes for Liverpool, with the Eagles having beaten them in the Community Shield and the Premier League this season already.

    Reds captain Virgil van Dijk shared Slot's sentiment and added: "My message ahead of this game is a simple one: we stick together, no matter what.

    "We know this is a difficult moment. We know results and performances are not what we want them to be, and that will lead to pressure, scrutiny and criticism from the outside.

    "We accept that. When you play for a club like Liverpool, it comes with certain standards and expectations.

    "You have to show the right reaction. You have to look at yourself, show strength and character, work hard and find a way to bounce back. That is exactly what we will be looking to do this evening."

  6. 'Teams are bullying Liverpool at the moment'published at 14:29 GMT 29 October

    Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool looks dejected alongside team-matesImage source, Getty Images

    Former Liverpool forward Natasha Dowie says she wants to see "more fight and nastiness" from the Reds as they look to move on from a run of five defeats in their past six games.

    Arne Slot's side host Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup fourth round on Wednesday.

    "As a fan, you always try to look positive," Dowie told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

    "It has to be better, you can't shy away from that, but I think also when you really break it down there are so many factors you have to take into consideration.

    "What I want is a little bit more of a fight and a nastiness. This Liverpool team are technically so gifted but teams are bullying them at the moment on the physical side of things.

    "When it comes to one v one battles they have to do better, they have to earn the right to play. It's not just winning the Premier League, teams then want to beat you even more.

    "I look at Arsenal at the moment - they will do anything to win. They're happy to scrape 1-0s.

    "Liverpool need to take a bit more pride in the clean sheet side of things. No clean sheet in nine is not good enough.

    "It doesn't get any easier. Crystal Palace are a physical team, have beaten Liverpool twice recently, so getting a result will not be straightforward.

    "[Jean-Philippe] Mateta is such a handful, he's got everything.

    "It will be interesting to see the teams both managers pick. Oliver Glasner has tended to go strong in the cup but Slot played a very young team against Southampton.

    "Can he afford to do that again?"

    Listen to the full discussion from 08:20 GMT on BBC Sounds

  7. 'Blending a lot of characters and styles' is Reds' biggest challenge - Akinfenwapublished at 12:13 GMT 29 October

    Sacked In The Morning podcast logo with Adebayo Akinfenwa on it

    Former English Football League striker and Liverpool fan Adebayo Akinfenwa says "there have been a lot of changes" at Anfield since the club won the Premier League and getting the right team dynamic is the biggest challenge they face.

    "Every Liverpool player and every Liverpool fan knows that when Alexander Isak hits form, or whenever it clicks, he's a problem," said Akinfenwa on the BBC's Sacked In The Morning podcast.

    "What is up for debate is the blending of a lot of characters and styles into a new team.

    "Isak would have thought he was coming into a more stable team and he was just going to add his little bit to it, whereas there are just a lot of changes and the core of the team now has changed.

    "He has been used to being the main man at Newcastle, where there was also probably a lot more space for him to run into too.

    "He's got to adapt his game and then everybody else has got to adapt to them.

    "What is unfortunate for him and everybody involved with Liverpool is he is trying to find his feet at the same time as Hugo Ekitike.

    "Mohamed Salah is still trying to be like: 'OK, I'm the main man, I got 50-plus goals doing it a certain way, which everybody understood.'

    "He probably thinks: 'If it's not broken, why would I fix it?' Whereas the problem is now that they have new players, it is broken."

    Listen to the Sacked In The Morning podcast on BBC Sounds

  8. 'Wirtz will be unbelievable' - Berbatovpublished at 12:13 GMT 29 October

    Florian Wirtz, wearing headphones and training gear, arrives at Gtech Community Stadium before the Premier League match between Brentford and LiverpoolImage source, Getty Images

    Former Manchester United star Dimitar Berbatov says Florian Wirtz will be "unbelievable" at Liverpool but may need to "have patience".

    Berbatov made the move from Bayer Leverkusen to Tottenham in 2006 but has admitted to "having doubts" after arriving in England and was contemplating whether he should return to Germany.

    The former Bulgaria international went on to win the EFL Cup with Spurs before joining Manchester United two years later, where he became a two-time Premier League champion.

    Wirtz made the same move from the Bundesliga to the Premier League in the summer, but has initially struggled to make an impact and is yet to score for his new club.

    "I love him," Berbatov told Rio Ferdinand on the Rio Meets podcast., external "He's a fantastic player. He will be unbelievable, trust me.

    "In my case, I was having doubts. The same process was happening when I arrived at Spurs as it was when I joined Leverkusen.

    "In the beginning it didn't work out quite well and I had to have patience.

    "At Spurs - a new environment, new people, new language, new everything - things were taking slowly to happen to me and I was thinking: 'Maybe I need to go back.' That negative thinking was there.

    "Then, at the same time when I was thinking like this, my other me was telling me: 'You saw what happened in Leverkusen - just be patient, you deserve to be here, you wanted a change and to be here. Now be stubborn and work smart and hard.'

    "I was motivating myself at the same time I was sabotaging myself. You want to go to your safe place but you need to have that motivation and ambition in you to overcome the fear."

  9. How much are Liverpool missing Diaz?published at 12:12 GMT 29 October

    Q&A with Phil McNulty banner
    Luis Diaz celebrating with the Premier League trophy Image source, Getty Images

    Chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions on all things Premier League.

    Oliver asked : A lot of Liverpool's woes have been placed on the defensive side, but do you think Liverpool losing Luis Diaz and having no direct replacement for the left wing is being understated?

    Phil answered: Liverpool are struggling as new signings try to settle in and head coach Arne Slot attempts to find a balance in his team, but you are right. They are missing the urgency, direct approach and the goals of Diaz.

    He had a superb season when they won the title, but in Liverpool's defence, it was Diaz who seemed determined to leave for Bayern Munich rather than being pushed out the door.

    Read more of Phil's Q&A here

  10. Arne Slot looks worried - should he be?published at 09:25 GMT 29 October

    Pat Nevin
    Former footballer and presenter

    Arne Slot managing LiverpoolImage source, Getty Images

    Liverpool suddenly look far less confident. The tiny moments of uncertainty can mean the difference between winning or losing by the odd goal.

    Eight of their nine league games this season have been won by a single goal either way, the margin between easy success and abject failure is that slim.

    The Premier League has produced a few teams that looked imperious over the years, but it only takes a couple of stumbles. It is not the vultures but the hyenas that are ready to pounce. Any sign of weakness is devoured mercilessly and that fear factor they relied on is history.

    That is exactly what you saw at Brentford - and every other team in the league will have spotted this too.

    It happened to Manchester City and it has taken Pep Guardiola a long time to get some of that X-factor back - though it still isn't there yet as Aston Villa proved once again.

    Liverpool must get out of this slump or that advantage they had, particularly at Anfield, will be gone. This is why - for the first time - Arne Slot actually sounds a little worried now.

    Sign up to read more from Pat Nevin in his Football Extra newsletter

  11. 'Slot is making bad decision after bad decision'published at 13:55 GMT 28 October

    Jordan Chamberlain
    Fan writer

    Liverpool fan's voice banner
    Arne SlotImage source, Getty Images

    It is getting very worrying.

    Liverpool had lost four of their previous five games before the Brentford defeat, but in most of them, were unlucky.

    The referee was horrible against Galatasaray and the Reds conceded last-minute goals to Chelsea and Crystal Palace. We would have beaten Manchester United if we had just taken our chances, too.

    But the loss to Brentford was not unlucky. It was an abysmal performance and even the penalty decisions that are certainly debatable should not shadow the fact Liverpool deserved absolutely nothing.

    Arne Slot is making bad decision after bad decision. His attempts to get Florian Wirtz into the side have ruined the stable midfield three he had last season. He is asking Milos Kerkez and Conor Bradley to do jobs in defence they are not capable of.

    There is no build-up at the back as Kerkez, Bradley, Ibou Konate and stand-in keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili can't pass. Curtis Jones has been easily Liverpool's best player in the past two games - someone who simply gets on the ball and moves it on.

    He is now injured. Slot should consider getting Joe Gomez into the defence, maybe at right-back. At least he can pass a ball into the midfield. Wirtz should play on the left, too, allowing the team a stable midfield with bodies in it.

    Perhaps Slot's biggest crime though is what he has done to Mohamed Salah. The tactics keep Salah out of the opposition box. He does not shoot anymore. Given he does not press or run in behind, does that not seem really silly?

    Find more from Jordan Chamberlain at Empire of the Kop, external

  12. How hard are Liverpool working?published at 08:26 GMT 28 October

    Nicola Pearson
    BBC Sport journalist

    Table graphic comparing Liverpool's stats per game from 2024-25 to 2025-26:
Games - 38 v 9
Duels - 91 v 98
Duels Won - 45 v 51
Duel Success Rate - 49.2% v 51.8%
Sprints - 156 v 158
Distance Covered - 107.7 v 109.2
Passing Accuracy - 86.3% v 84.9%

    Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has stated that the Reds' season is at a "crisis" stage after four straight Premier League defeats, while ex-England captain Wayne Rooney feels the side are lacking leadership.

    What is their poor run down to?

    On Saturday, Brentford ran more than 7km further than Liverpool as a team - clocking 121.41km to the Reds' 114.08km.

    And while some may be questioning the application of the players, in general, the stats appear to show that the club's players have actually not downed tools.

    When comparing this season so far to last season's title-winning campaign on a per-game basis, the team are involved in more duels (98 to 91) and have a better success rate in them (51.8% to 49.2%).

    Also on a per-game basis, this season's side edge ahead in the amount of sprints (158-156), while also covering that bit more distance each match with 109.2km compared to 107.7km.

    In terms of their passing accuracy, they are a little down at 84.9% compared to 86.3%, but, ultimately, it is all very comparable.

    As is the way with football, there is no simple, single reason to explain Liverpool's drop-off from imperious champions to a side struggling to keep the ball out of their net or pick up points in the league.

    There is an old adage that says "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" and it feels the Reds' current situation could be representative of this.

    While evolution in football is necessary, making too many changes in one go - in this case, nearly £450m of new talent and the exits of some big names - is always going to require a bedding-in period and the riding of some choppy waves.

    After sticking with the tried and tested during his first season at Anfield, Arne Slot is now trying to stamp his own mark on this side. But while the Premier League crown will have bought him a good grace period, if things do not turn around soon, the Dutch manager could find it harder to keep the questions around his decisions at bay.

  13. 'We want to turn this around' - Van Dijk on Liverpool's losing runpublished at 18:11 GMT 27 October

    Virgil van DijkImage source, Getty Images

    Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside about the team's poor Premier League form: "The matter of fact is that we lost four Premier League games in a row and that we want to turn that around as soon as possible.

    "It's a collective thing. We go through phases in a season where we all have to improve and step up. It feels like we are repeating ourselves, but I have to stand here and speak to you guys [the media] at times as well. So it is down to us to keep going, and we want to turn this around. That's a fact.

    "I'm confident that we will, but we need to work for it with everything that we have together, with everyone involved.

    "It's disappointing that we can't keep a clean sheet at the moment, but that's something I'm also part of, like the rest of the team, it's not only one player or the back line, it's everyone that's responsible for that."

    Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

  14. Omens not good for Liverpoolpublished at 12:57 GMT 27 October

    Paul Birch
    BBC Sport journalist

    Graphic showing how when defending Premier League champions lost four league games in a row they never won it the following year

    With their defeat by Brentford on Saturday, Liverpool became the fourth defending Premier League champions to lose four matches in a row.

    The bad news is that none of the previous three sides recovered to retain their title.

    Liverpool's previous four league defeats came across a stretch of 47 matches, while they lost just four top-flight fixtures across the whole of last season.

    The only team in Europe's top five leagues that is on a worse losing run than the Reds is Germany's St Pauli, who have lost five on the spin in the Bundesliga.

  15. Who could challenge Arsenal for Premier League trophy?published at 11:44 GMT 27 October

    Graphic of Opta Supercomputer table showing Arsenal as favourites for Premier League title in 2025-26, followed by Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Bournemouth and TottenhamImage source, Opta

    It may only be October, but is it already a one-horse Premier League title race?

    Arsenal's impressive start to the season - along with their regular Premier League title rivals stumbling - has left Mikel Arteta's side with a 67.34% chance of winning the trophy this season, according to the latest predictions from Opta's Supercomputer.

    The Gunners, who have scored the second-most goals and conceded the fewest, have looked in imperious form as they bid to win a first Premier League title since 2004.

    Manchester City are their nearest predicted challenger at 12.43%, despite sitting fifth in the table and six points off Arsenal at the top.

    Following their 3-2 defeat by Brentford on Saturday - their fourth successive loss in the league - reigning champions Liverpool, who currently sit seventh, have been given the third-best chance of keeping hold of their crown at 11.04%.

    They may be second in the table, but the Gunners' nearest challengers Bournemouth have still only been given a 1.47% chance of lifting the Premier League trophy.

    A top-four finish and guaranteed Champions League football, however, is rated as a 22.67% chance for the Cherries.

    They may be their closest rivals geographically and be third in the league, but Opta does not have Tottenham running Arteta's side all that close for the top-flight crown, with just an eighth-best 1.43% chance.

    And what of surprise candidates Sunderland?

    They are fourth in the table following their 93rd-minute winner against Chelsea on Saturday, but thoughts of a dream run to the title for fans should be tempered according to the supercomputer.

    The promoted side have been given a 0% chance of lifting the trophy and also just a 0.91% chance of staying in the top four. However, the Black Cats' chance of relegation now stand at less than 10% (9.52%).

    Graphic showing bottom of Opta Supercomputer predicted table with Wolves 20th, West Ham 19th, Nottingham Forest 18th, Burnley 17th, Leeds 16th and Sunderland 14thImage source, Opta
  16. Brentford 3-2 Liverpool - the fans' verdictpublished at 09:42 GMT 27 October

    Your opinions graphic

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    We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Brentford and Liverpool.

    Here are some of your comments:

    Brentford fans

    Steve: A thoroughly professional performance against the reigning champions and the tactics were spot on. Liverpool are becoming easy to read these days, and teams are adapting their style of play to expose their weak spots. A well-deserved three points, as the score flattered Liverpool.

    Cliff: Just a brilliant performance from one to 11, plus the subs. We exploited Liverpool's weaknesses brilliantly. Special mention to Kayode, who I believe will become the best right back in the world.

    Mel: Wow, what a match, it had everything you want to see in a match. A game full of energy, passion and quality from an ever-maturing Bees squad depleted by the loss of key personnel in the summer. Andrews has learned well from Thomas Frank and his game plan successfully defeated a formidable Liverpool squad.

    Chuck: Magnificent performance from Brentford. There was plenty of quality football on show from the Bees, as well as the mayhem we caused with our set pieces. Liverpool were second best all evening, even with the help of two referees.

    Liverpool fans

    Mark: Liverpool played exactly as they are, a team short on confidence, plus you have to give credit to Brentford. Alisson and Gravenberch are injured, while Konate, Mac Allister, Gakpo and Salah are out of form,]. Van Dijk and Robertson are doing OK, so it is only really Szoboszlai that is showing anywhere near the form from last season.

    Nick: Liverpool should go back to the system that won them the Premier League last season. 4-3-3 and stay much lower in a defensive block, so the long ball doesn't catch them out. The system they now play will see them completely fall down the league table. Slot should take a look at himself to right the wrongs.

    John: Van Dijk has been poor so far. He's out of position too many times and that's where the goals are being scored from. We are missing Gravenberch in midfield, but the defending is poor. I think the two new full-backs were panic buys and have weakened the team rather than made it better. Isak's been a waste of money and they should have spent it on Guehi.

  17. Salah and Van Dijk have not led Liverpool - Rooneypublished at 09:16 GMT 27 October

    Media caption,

    Former England captain Wayne Rooney says Liverpool's top players are falling short - both in performance and body language - amid the club's poor run of form.

    Watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

  18. Reds 'don't look like a team' - Reo-Cokerpublished at 08:15 GMT 27 October

    Liverpool players all look dejected Image source, Getty Images

    Former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker says Liverpool are not operating as a team this season and that is why they are struggling to find form.

    Saturday's defeat to Brentford, which has left them seventh in the league, highlighted the Reds' defensive weaknesses and lack of togetherness.

    "They are a great team on paper but not a team in terms of the product on the football pitch," said Reo-Coker on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "There are too many individual moments.

    "When they made these signings it was clear that Liverpool wanted to be spoken about in the same breath as Real Madrid, who create an empire and dominate.

    "They went very Hollywood which goes against the culture of the club and the lights have become too bright for some of the players.

    "Milos Kerkez is not the same as what we saw at Bournemouth. Trent Alexander-Arnold got criticised for his defensive abilities so I think Kerkez deserves the same because he is not defending.

    "I don't see a team. Virgil van Dijk is not the same leader and that is probably because he has no confidence in the back four. He looks very annoyed with Kerkez.

    "The only two players who cannot get any criticism are Dominik Szoboszlai because he has been fantastic and goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.

    "Slot hasn't helped with putting comments out there about what Liverpool are vulnerable with and some of the decisions he is making with players.

    "They need some team bonding. They need to get to know one another on a better level because they don't look like a team."

    Listen to the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds

  19. Reds defence against Brentford was 'unacceptable'published at 14:00 GMT 26 October

    Phil McNulty
    Chief football writer

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    Liverpool had concerns everywhere against Brentford, from established performers of the past to expensive new acquisitions who were simply not up to scratch.

    Virgil van Dijk cannot escape the scrutiny, his partnership on the left side of Liverpool's defence with the struggling £40m Milos Kerkez an uneasy alliance, and the captain exchanging quizzical glances with the Hungarian in the first half.

    It was Van Dijk who brought down Dango Outarra on the line of the penalty area to concede the spot-kick from which Igor Thiago effectively sealed the success for Brentford.

    The Dutchman has been a central figure of a defence that has creaked all season.

    Since the start of May, Liverpool have conceded 2+ goals in more Premier League games than any other side with nine, while they have conceded 14 goals in their nine league games this season. In the previous campaign they did not concede their 14th goal until their 16th game.

    Liverpool's midfield was non-existent, while hope that £116m Florian Wirtz had sparked into life with an improved performance in the 5-1 Champions League win at Eintracht Frankfurt was extinguished here.

    Liverpool have a team with quality, but no shape. The near-£450m spend in the summer has not yet offered anything in the way of improvement or progress.

    Arne Slot will have to find the answers and quickly.