Liverpool manager Arne Slot expressed surprise at his side’s dramatic slump after the reigning Premier League champions fell 3-2 to Brentford, marking their fourth consecutive league defeat.
The loss means Liverpool joins an exclusive, unwanted list of only four defending Premier League champions to suffer such a streak.
“I didn’t expect it to go with four losses in a row, let that be clear,” Slot said, acknowledging that the £450 million summer rebuild may be a factor. He stressed that the core problem is conceding too many goals: “We don’t compete up there because we simply concede too many goals… that’s something we do with 11 players together.”
The early goals are a chronic issue; Dango Ouattara’s fifth-minute opener meant the Reds have now conceded in the opening 15 minutes of four consecutive games—a record dating back to January 1996.
Despite a recent 5-1 Champions League win, problems with set pieces and throw-ins persist.
Brentford manager Keith Andrews praised his side’s “fearless” approach in earning the win.
Liverpool faces a challenging schedule next, including an EFL Cup tie against Crystal Palace, league fixtures against Aston Villa, and clashes with Real Madrid and Manchester City.
