Liverpool hit by three defeats as Slot contract talks continue

Liverpool enter the international break on the back of three consecutive defeats, leaving the Premier League champions facing questions over their form, personnel and recruitment. The run, capped by a 2-1 loss at Chelsea last weekend after a stoppage-time winner, follows a late defeat at Crystal Palace and a Champions League reverse, and comes ahead of a high-profile home meeting with Manchester United on October 19.

Arne Slot's side remain close to the summit, but the recent sequence has exposed structural concerns, most prominently on the right-hand side of the pitch and in the forward line. Opponents have repeatedly targeted Liverpool's right channel, exploiting numerical advantages when Mohamed Salah remains high up the field. Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy highlighted that approach, saying, "It feels like Mohamed Salah's lack of defensive work has become a little problem for Liverpool, especially against the better teams." Players asked to cover on that flank have included Conor Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong and Dominik Szoboszlai, the latter often deployed out of position as a makeshift rightback.

Salah's overall output has also been under scrutiny. The 33-year-old...