Liverpool Face Tough Reality After Man City Defeat: Title Hopes Fading Fast

November 10, 2025

Liverpool’s latest defeat to Manchester City has raised serious concerns about their season. The 2-0 loss at the Etihad marks their fifth Premier League defeat of the campaign, leaving them eight points behind leaders Arsenal and sitting in eighth place on the table.

Despite an impressive Champions League win over Real Madrid earlier in the week, the Reds have now suffered a significant dip in domestic form, forcing manager Arne Slot to admit that the Premier League title is currently out of reach.

“The last thing I should think about now is the title race,” said Slot. “The reality is we are eighth now.”

⚽ Liverpool’s Worrying Form

Liverpool have lost five of their first eleven Premier League games — a statistic last seen when Leicester City defended their title in 2016-17.
Their defense, once known for its solidity, has struggled, conceding 27 goals in their last 15 league games while keeping only three clean sheets.

The team has also endured a poor away record, losing four consecutive away fixtures, and six of their last eight stretching back to last season.

🔴 Big-Money Signings Yet to Deliver

Liverpool’s summer spending spree, worth around £225 million, was supposed to boost their attack.
However, new signings Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak have yet to make a strong impact.

Florian Wirtz – No Premier League goal or assist so far.
Alexander Isak – Only three league starts, all ending in defeats.

Both players were expected to strengthen the front line after Liverpool invested heavily in attacking options. Yet, when Hugo Ekitike was substituted against City, the Reds found themselves without a recognised striker on the field — a surprising situation for a team that spent £204 million on forwards in the summer.

🧩 Defensive and Tactical Challenges

Defensively, Ibrahima Konate’s inconsistent form has left gaps in Liverpool’s backline, while Slot’s tactical choices — including cautious play against City — have limited the team’s attacking threat.
Even Mohamed Salah, Liverpool’s top scorer over the past three decades, struggled to make an impact against makeshift City full-backs Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly.

Meanwhile, Dominik Szoboszlai remains one of the few bright spots in what has been a disappointing start to the season.

🏆 The Road Ahead

While the season is far from over, Liverpool’s hopes of defending their Premier League crown are slipping away.
To get back on track, Arne Slot’s side must rebuild confidence, rediscover their attacking rhythm, and tighten up defensively — all before the gap to the top becomes impossible to close.

For now, Liverpool must focus on performance, consistency, and balance, rather than the title race.

As Guardiola said: “You can lose the title in November — but you can’t win it.”