The Premier League is officially back, and our beloved Liverpool FC collected its opening victory over Bournemouth at Anfield, while newcomer Hugo Ekitike headlined with his first goal and assist in his PL debut, and Federico Chiesa came off the bench with a volley when the score was tied.
But the result was not convincing. If you watched the match, you wouldn’t be relieved until Mo Salah sealed the win in the 94th minute. As the team kicks off the season, a familiar problem has emerged.
Liverpool’s Defensive Fragility is a Warning
During the pre-season, Liverpool conceded goals in five senior matches, including a 4–2 loss to AC Milan and multiple goals allowed against teams like Athletic Bilbao.
Their set-piece defense was notably weak—second-phase attack goals and poor marking raised early concerns, indicating that Arne Slot’s squad lacked cohesion and defensive stability.
These worries intensified at Wembley, where Liverpool lost a 2–0 lead to Crystal Palace and eventually fell in the Community Shield on penalties.
The defensive problems continued throughout the game: individual mistakes by Virgil van Dijk resulted in a penalty and an equalizer; turnovers in midfield created dangerous gaps; and while full-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez were active in attack, they left large spaces that exposed the defense.
Although Liverpool opened its new season strongly, the process couldn’t persuade Kopites to believe this is a defending champion that aspires to replicate its success.
The Reds’ defense continued to show their fragility, allowing Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo to capitalize on his two big chances into goals through comeback plays.
Help could be on the way
Slot himself previously admitted that despite improved attacking transitions, conceding too many chances, not just goals, was fatal in his double-winning season, and this pattern needs urgent correction.
Even Jamie Carragher expressed his concern, warning the Reds could be in for “a lot of high-scoring games” if corrections aren’t made.
Defensive reinforcements are clearly needed. With Joe Gomez declining from his prime due to consecutive injuries and Jarell Quansah sold, depth at centre-back is thin.
But Liverpool just signed another young talent, Giovanni Leoni, before the opener as a response to the position demand. We can expect more balanced play and convincing victories if the backline is fortified.
The season has officially begun, and Liverpool won't have the luxury of rebuilding through the transfer market much longer or relying on late-match heroics to bail themselves out.
'Slot Ball' thrives under balance, not chaos. Now is the time to tighten the backline and ensure defensive solidity. If not corrected, the issue could fester and cost Liverpool even more.