Honestly, if you looked at the Premier League table right now, you might think everything is just fine at Anfield. Fourth place isn't a disaster, right? But the vibe around the AXA Training Centre this January feels heavy. It’s that familiar, sinking feeling of a "squad depth crisis" that Liverpool fans hoped they'd left behind in the Klopp era. Arne Slot is currently navigating a storm that’s half bad luck and half a massive gamble by the board that backfired.
Liverpool FC latest news is dominated by one name right now: Conor Bradley. The kid has been a revelation, but that knee injury against Arsenal on January 8th is a total gut-punch. He’s had surgery, he’s out for the season, and suddenly Slot’s tactical board looks like a game of Jenga with half the pieces missing.
The Right-Back Conundrum No One Saw Coming
When Liverpool spent over £400 million last summer, nobody thought we’d be talking about Dominik Szoboszlai playing right-back in 2026. Yet, here we are. With Bradley joining Giovanni Leoni on the "out for the season" list, Slot is down to just six fit senior defenders. That is insane for a club trying to compete in the Champions League and the Premier League at the same time.
The talk of Jeremie Frimpong moving back to a traditional full-back role is picking up steam. He’s been playing further forward since his hamstring issues, but necessity is the mother of invention, or in this case, desperation. Slot basically admitted he doesn’t want to use Szoboszlai there, but when your options are "none" and "none," you pick the guy who can run the most.
Joe Gomez is the other obvious fix. But let’s be real—Gomez looked shaky against Barnsley in the FA Cup. He’s a legend for his service, but asking him to provide the same overlapping threat as Bradley or a fit Frimpong is a big ask.
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The Isak and Ekitike Situation
Up front, it’s just as messy. Alexander Isak was supposed to be the final piece of the puzzle—a record £125 million signing that felt like a statement of intent. Then, the fracture. December was brutal for the Swede, and while he’s technically "on the mend," we won’t see him leading the line for another couple of months.
Thank god for Hugo Ekitike.
The Frenchman has quietly become the most important player in this attack. Twelve goals across all competitions is no joke, especially when Mo Salah is away at the Africa Cup of Nations. People were worried about Ekitike's muscle soreness (DOMS) keeping him out of the Fulham and Arsenal games, but his goal against Barnsley showed he’s ready to carry the weight. If he stops scoring, Liverpool's top-four hopes probably go with him.
Why the Board is Refusing to Buy
This is the part that drives fans crazy. David Ornstein basically confirmed that Liverpool don't plan on signing senior cover this month. They’re "keeping their powder dry" for the summer.
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It’s a classic FSG move.
Instead of a £50 million stop-gap, they’re signing teenagers. Mor Talla Ndiaye, the 18-year-old from Senegal, is the latest arrival. He looks like a beast, but he’s headed straight for the U21s. Same with Noah Adekoya. It’s great for the future, sure, but it doesn't help Virgil van Dijk when he's facing a Champions League knockout tie with no backup on the bench.
- The logic: January is "notoriously difficult" for long-term targets.
- The reality: If the club misses out on the top four because they didn't buy a defender, the summer budget takes a hit anyway.
- The gamble: Slot is being asked to work miracles with a thin squad, just like his predecessor did in 2021.
Tactical Stagnation or Just Fatigue?
There's a growing subset of the fanbase—and some pundits like Jamie Carragher—who are starting to question if Slot’s "control" is actually just "boredom." The stats don't lie. Last season, the xG was over 2.0 per match. This season? It’s slumped to 1.72.
We saw it against Arsenal. No shots on target. Zero.
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Arsenal pinned us in, and even when Liverpool had the ball in the second half, they didn't know what to do with it. Without a recognized striker and with Salah in Africa, the "heavy metal" football has been replaced by a slow, methodical rhythm that looks easy to defend against. Slot loves to talk about "low blocks" in his press conferences, but at some point, you have to find the key to the lock.
What Needs to Happen Next
If you’re looking for a silver lining, it’s the return of the injured fringe. Calvin Ramsay’s loan being cancelled might be the most "Liverpool" solution ever, but he’s a natural right-back and he’s fit. He might actually be the savior we didn't expect.
Also, Mo Salah is expected back next week. Even at 33, his presence changes how teams defend against Liverpool. His return will allow Frimpong to drop back into defense more permanently, which solves the Bradley problem without spending a penny.
Actionable Insights for the Second Half of the Season:
- Monitor the right-back rotation: Watch if Slot trusts Calvin Ramsay in the Burnley game or sticks with a makeshift Joe Gomez/Szoboszlai hybrid.
- Ekitike's workload: If Ekitike starts every game in January, the risk of another injury is sky-high. Slot needs to rotate Darwin Nunez or Gakpo more effectively.
- Champions League priority: With a top-four race looking tight (Brentford and Villa are breathing down our necks), keep an eye on whether Slot rotates the squad for the remaining league phase matches.
The next few weeks will define the season. It’s not about winning pretty anymore; it’s about surviving until the injury list starts to shrink.