Arne Slot is finding out the hard way that defending a Premier League title is about ten times harder than winning one. It’s January 15, 2026, and the mood around Anfield is... let’s call it "tense." If you've been following the football news now Liverpool fans are obsessing over, you know the vibes are slightly off.
We’re sitting here in the middle of a winter window that feels like a massive crossroads. Liverpool currently sits fourth in the table with 35 points after 21 games. That's a staggering 14 points behind Arsenal, who are absolutely flying. After a 2024/25 season where Slot basically walked on water, the 2025/26 campaign has been a brutal reality check.
Three straight Premier League draws to start the New Year—against Leeds, Fulham, and Arsenal—have sucked the momentum right out of the building. Sure, the 4-1 FA Cup win over Barnsley on Monday gave the kids a chance to shine, but the real test is Saturday against Burnley.
The Injury Crisis No One Saw Coming
Honestly, the medical room at the AXA Training Centre must be standing room only at this point. The biggest blow? Conor Bradley. The kid has been a revelation since taking over the right-back role, but he’s gone. A "significant" knee injury against Arsenal has him out for the season.
He posted on Instagram yesterday that his surgery was successful, but we won't see him until the 2026/27 preseason. That’s a massive problem for Slot’s tactical setup.
Then you've got the Alexander Isak situation. When Liverpool dropped the bag for him, everyone thought it was the final piece of the puzzle. Now, he’s recovering from a fractured fibula sustained in December. Slot says he’ll be back before May, but "a couple of months" is a long time in a title race that is quickly turning into a scrap for Top 4.
The AFCON Headache
And then there's Mo Salah. It feels like he’s been in Africa forever, doesn't it? Egypt just got knocked out by Senegal in the semi-finals (thanks to a Sadio Mane goal, because the universe loves irony), but Salah isn’t coming home yet. He’s staying for the third-place play-off against Nigeria on Saturday.
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This means he’s definitely out for the Burnley game. He might be back for Marseille in the Champions League on Wednesday, but realistically, we’re looking at the Bournemouth game on January 24th for a full return.
Football News Now Liverpool: The Transfer Window Panic
Everyone is asking the same thing: will Richard Hughes actually sign anyone?
The rumors are flying. Federico Chiesa’s name is constantly in the headlines, and not for good reasons. There’s talk of a "sacrifice" or a shock swap deal. Some reports even suggested Ibrahima Konate could be headed to Aston Villa in exchange for Ezri Konsa.
Personally? I think that’s a stretch. But it shows how much the defense has struggled lately. Slot himself admitted after the 3-3 draw with Leeds that Konate has been "at the crime scene" too often when goals go in.
What about the youth?
One bright spot is Lewis Koumas. Liverpool actually renegotiated his loan deal with Birmingham City this week. They’ve extended the recall window, basically because he’s finally playing regularly under Chris Davies. It’s a smart move—keep him developing there rather than rotting on the Anfield bench, even if the senior squad is thin.
Also, keep an eye on Rio Ngumoha. The 17-year-old was subbed off against Barnsley with what looked like a bad injury, but it turns out it was just cramp. He should be on the bench this weekend.
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Tactical Shifts: From Heavy Metal to... Control?
The big debate among the fans right now is whether Slot’s "controlled" style is actually working. Under Jurgen Klopp, it was chaos, but it was winning chaos. Slot wants a 3-2 build-up. He wants the full-backs (like Milos Kerkez and the now-injured Bradley) to invert and create central overloads.
When it works, it's beautiful. When it doesn't, we look stagnant.
The goalless draw at the Emirates was a prime example. Liverpool had zero "closer" in the final third. Without Salah’s gravity and Isak’s movement, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo are struggling to find space.
The Midfield Balance
Dominik Szoboszlai has been experimented with at right-back recently. Yes, you read that right. Slot admitted we might see more of that because of the Bradley injury. It feels like a "square peg in a round hole" situation, but with Wataru Endo only just returning to training from an ankle issue, the midfield options are a bit weird.
Why Saturday Against Burnley is a Must-Win
Burnley are 19th. They’ve got 13 points. If Liverpool don't take three points at Anfield, the "Slot Out" brigade (who are currently a very small, very loud minority) will start getting louder.
Liverpool haven't failed to win three consecutive home league games against newly-promoted teams in the Premier League era. If they draw or lose this, it’s a historic low for a team that was lifting the trophy just seven months ago.
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Expected Lineup against Burnley:
Alisson; Szoboszlai (or Quansah at RB), Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Jones; Diaz, Nunez, Gakpo.
It’s not the world-beating XI we saw in August, but it should be enough to beat Scott Parker’s side.
What You Should Keep an Eye On
If you're looking for the most important football news now Liverpool is dealing with, stop looking at the "Who are we buying?" rumors for a second and look at the "Who is leaving?" section.
Andy Robertson’s contract expires this summer. He’s said he wants to stay, but he also wants to play. With Kerkez looking like the future at left-back, Robbo’s time might be winding down. These next two weeks of the transfer window will tell us a lot about the club's long-term faith in the current core.
Actionable Insights for the Week:
- Watch the Saturday 3 PM kickoff: This isn't just a routine game; it’s a test of Liverpool’s depth and Slot’s ability to adapt without his primary right-back and star winger.
- Monitor the 3rd place AFCON match: If Salah picks up even a minor knock against Nigeria, the Marseille game becomes a nightmare.
- Check the transfer deadline updates: Expect movement on the fringes. James Norris has already left for Shelbourne, and more youth loans are likely.
The season isn't over, but the margin for error is gone. Liverpool need to stop the "draw-itis" and start acting like champions again.
Next Steps for You: Keep a close watch on the post-match press conference this Saturday. Arne Slot has been increasingly blunt about the squad's "lack of intensity," and his comments after the Burnley game will likely signal whether he intends to force the club's hand in the final days of the January window. If he hints at needing "more options" again, expect the transfer rumors to go into overdrive.