Pre‑season fixtures often spark heated debate among supporters and pundits alike. Some argue that the results of these warm‑up games are meaningless, while others claim they offer a glimpse of a team’s shape, fitness and tactical direction. For Liverpool supporters, the excitement of seeing new signings and fresh combinations on the pitch has been abruptly dampened by a series of disappointing performances, most notably a 2‑0 loss to Monaco that followed a similar two‑goal defeat at the hands of Leeds United. The significance of pre‑season outcomes is notoriously difficult to quantify.
History provides plenty of examples that defy simple cause‑and‑effect logic. Take Arsenal’s 2022‑23 summer: they suffered a 2‑1 loss to Tottenham in Hong Kong and were beaten by Villarreal at home in their penultimate friendly, yet within nine months manager Mikel Arteta retained his job, the Gunners clinched the Premier League title and reached the Champions League final, where they fell short only after a penalty shoot‑out. By the same token, Liverpool’s recent back‑to‑back collapses could be dismissed as mere blips, especially when the team’s attacking youngsters – Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak – managed to find the net against Monaco, suggesting that the attacking spark is already present.
Nevertheless, the broader picture is less reassuring for new head coach Arne Slot, who has just under two weeks before his side opens the league campaign against Newcastle United on August 23. Slot has publicly flagged the issues that the recent defeats have laid bare, with fitness emerging as the most urgent concern. Last season, Liverpool’s predecessor, Jurgen Klopp, built his reputation on a high‑pressing, high‑intensity style that demanded relentless sprints and vigorous pressing.
In contrast, the Reds registered the third‑fewest pressure actions and the second‑fewest high‑presses in the opponent’s half across the Premier League, indicating a shortfall in the very attributes that have defined the club’s identity. The physical demands of Slot’s system are even greater than those of Klopp’s. Slot’s Bournemouth side, for example, completed more sprints than any other Premier League team last season, underscoring the level of conditioning required to execute his game plan.
In a candid post‑match interview after the Monaco loss, Slot admitted that his players could perhaps sustain the required intensity for only thirty minutes at a time. "We played well in the first half, especially the first 30 minutes, but right now probably we don't have much more in terms of the level required to play like this," he told the club’s official channels. This admission also highlights a deeper problem: limited playing time.
While rivals such as Manchester City, Arsenal and Aston Villa each kept at least five outfield starters on the pitch for 75 minutes or more in their recent friendlies, Liverpool managed just three players for a full hour. Even Newcastle, the Reds’ opening‑day opponents, gave six of their squad members at least 67 minutes against Valencia, despite losing Jacob Murphy to injury early in the match. The disparity suggests that Liverpool’s squad is not only less fit but also less accustomed to sustained, cohesive match play. Depth is another glaring issue.
Chelsea, for instance, rotated seamlessly, bringing on Nicolas Jackson, Georginio Rutter and Esteves to secure a 3‑0 win over AC Milan. Liverpool, by contrast, relied on a makeshift centre‑back pairing of Wataru Endo and Luke Chambers – the latter having spent the previous season on loan at Charlton – for the majority of the second half against Monaco. Beyond the defensive line, the club’s bench offers limited Premier League experience: Victor Muñoz and Milos Kerkez, likely starters against Newcastle, have together only eight top‑flight starts from the previous season, five of which came from 17‑year‑old Rio Ngumoha. Slot is aware of the thinness of his roster and has already pressed the board for further reinforcements.
The recent departure of Michael Edwards and the persistent speculation surrounding Richard Hughes do little to allay concerns about squad depth, especially if the team struggles to find rhythm early in the campaign. The surprise acquisition of Ronald Araujo adds a quality centre‑back, but Liverpool still have just two senior, fully fit centre‑backs. Conor Bradley remains months away from returning, according to Slot, while Kostas Tsimikas and Milos Kerkez are fortunately fit. The attacking department also requires attention.
While Victor Muñoz provides a useful option, the club still needs a reliable replacement for Mohamed Salah, whose departure would leave a massive void. Cody Gakpo has attracted interest from Tottenham, and Curtis Jones missed Sunday’s defeat entirely, with Inter Milan reportedly keen to sign the England midfielder. After spending over £400 million on transfers last summer – a figure that remains staggering even after accounting for outgoing deals – it is reasonable to expect Liverpool to have addressed most positional gaps. Yet injuries to key defenders such as Jeremy Jaquez, Giovanni Leoni and now Joe Gomez have exacerbated the centre‑back shortage, a problem that stems more from bad luck than from poor planning.
Only Alexis Mac Allister has returned from World Cup duty, meaning that the pre‑season has largely served to expose the squad’s vulnerabilities rather than to conceal them. The most conspicuous holes appear in the wide‑forward and midfield areas, and with the transfer window set to close in just three weeks, the club must act swiftly if it hopes to avoid a sluggish start to the season. Few observers anticipate a repeat of Slot’s debut season success or a Premier League title for Liverpool by next May. Nonetheless, the extent of the gap between the Anfield faithful’s expectations and the reality on the training ground will hinge on the club’s ability to reinforce the squad in the remaining days of the transfer window.
If the Reds can shore up their defensive options, add depth to the attacking ranks and improve overall fitness, they may still salvage a competitive start. If not, the early-season fixtures could turn into a painful reminder that pre‑season performance, while not decisive, can be an early warning sign of deeper issues that need urgent resolution.