Liverpool Crisis After £450m Summer Overhaul

Liverpool plunged into a crisis after a 3-2 defeat at Brentford — their fourth consecutive Premier League loss — leaving the champions sixth and having conceded nine goals in four league games. The collapse intensified scrutiny of Arne Slot’s summer overhaul, with roughly £446–450m spent on signings including Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, and critics saying the radical changes have eroded last season’s cohesion. Tactical misalignment, recurring defensive lapses, poor game management and vulnerability to set-pieces and counter-attacks were widely blamed for the defeat, while contentious VAR decisions compounded frustration. Former Reds at Brentford — notably Sepp van den Berg and Jordan Henderson — played prominent roles in the upset. The loss came on a weekend when Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea all lost — the first time that has happened since December 2015 — deepening concerns ahead of the home game with Crystal Palace and upcoming Champions League fixtures.