Liverpool Suffers Consecutive Defeats with Wirtz Struggling under Slot's Tactics

Liverpool has faced recent struggles in the 2025/2026 season, marked notably by a 1-0 Champions League defeat to Galatasaray and a prior loss to Crystal Palace. Arne Slot, Liverpool's manager, acknowledges the team's challenges but notes some improvement compared to previous performances, emphasizing that the margins in top-level football remain slim. A central concern is the underwhelming start of record signing Florian Wirtz, who, despite his high-profile transfer and evident skill, has yet to register a goal or assist in his initial matches. Analysts point to tactical mismatches affecting Wirtz's effectiveness, highlighting that he is often deployed in deeper roles unlike his more advanced positioning at Bayer Leverkusen, partly due to the team's adjustments following the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold. Additionally, Liverpool's adaptation to new signings like Alexander Isak is ongoing, with the team still searching for optimal ways to integrate their talents. While the current results and performances have raised questions, Liverpool's coaching staff and supporters remain hopeful that tactical refinements will enable players like Wirtz and Isak to realize their potential and improve the team's overall competitiveness.