Liverpool Slump Leaves Champions Sixth

Liverpool's title defence has unravelled into a four-game Premier League losing streak after a 3-2 defeat at Brentford, leaving the champions sixth and several points adrift of the top. Manager Arne Slot described the Brentford loss as among his worst, saying opponents have "figured them out" by using long throws, deep defensive blocks and rapid counters, and he admitted he has yet to find solutions. Match reports and analysts pointed to recurring defensive lapses, poor game management, vulnerability to set-pieces and counter-attacks, early concessions, and contentious VAR decisions including a late penalty. Key figures have struggled for form — Mohamed Salah was noticeably off it — and the new signings have not yet fully gelled after a heavy summer recruitment drive, intensifying scrutiny of Slot's tactics and selection. Having already lost as many league games so far as they did last season, Liverpool now face Crystal Palace at Anfield and urgently need to halt the slide to prevent the title race slipping further away.