Liverpool is going through one of its worst spells in recent years. The team led by Arne Slot has lost three consecutive matches, surrendering the Premier League lead to Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal. Defeats to Crystal Palace, Chelsea, and Galatasaray in the Champions League have set off alarm bells at Anfield. The Reds hadn’t endured such a negative run since the Jürgen Klopp era, more than two and a half years ago.

Salah, the mirror of the team’s slump

Amid the crisis, all eyes are on Mohamed Salah, who has failed to replicate the level that made him a star last season. The Egyptian, top scorer in the previous Premier League campaign with 29 goals and 34 in all competitions, has started this season well below his usual standards.

In ten matches and a total of 838 minutes, Salah has only managed three goals —one from the penalty spot— and three assists. At the same stage last year, he had already scored six and provided five assists. According to Opta, his decline is striking: his goals-per-90-minute average has dropped from 0.77 to 0.29, while his xG (expected goals) has fallen from 0.68 to 0.28. His attacking involvement has also plummeted—shots per game have dropped from 3.46 to 1.72, and touches inside the box have gone from 10.5 to 5.6 per match.

A million-dollar project with no results

Liverpool’s problems go beyond Salah’s lack of sharpness. The team’s overall structure seems to have fallen apart. The same side that began the season with five straight wins—four in the league and one in the Champions League against Atlético de Madrid—now finds itself conceding late goals to its opponents, as seen against Crystal Palace and Chelsea.

Even the €482 million invested in reinforcements has yet to pay off. New signings like Florian Wirtz have failed to shine, while Alexander Isak has scored just once in six matches. The only bright spot has been Hugo Ekitike, who has netted three times so far this season.

Tough schedule and rising pressure

Liverpool now heads into the international break hoping to regroup, but the road ahead won’t be easy. Over the next three weeks, they will play seven matches, including high-stakes clashes against Manchester United, Manchester City, and Real Madrid, along with a Carabao Cup meeting with Crystal Palace.

With the team in crisis and Salah far from his best form, Arne Slot’s biggest challenge will be restoring the confidence and efficiency that once made Liverpool one of Europe’s most feared teams.