Arne Slot’s side have had a tough time against the Premier League’s biggest this season
By Alex Ridout
In a disappointing season for the soon to be former Premier League champions, Liverpool have struggled to find consistency.
There have been times where the Reds have shown the worth that their players possess, and even the rare occasions where they provided performances that fans could start talking about.
However, after an extremely impressive first season on Merseyside for Arne Slot, this campaign has seen the Dutchman fail to take his squad forward.
Instead he finds his team a massive 25 points off their ending total from the Dutchman’s first attempt on British soil, with only two games left to play
Embed from Getty ImagesOne of the stats that will hurt Kopites the most is their side’s record in the big games, the matches that matter the most, against rivals and title challengers alike.
Under previous manager Jurgen Klopp, and even under Slot only a year ago, Liverpool have been a side, that in recent years, have performed against the biggest of teams on the most vital stages.
Now, as the 2025/26 season draws to a close, it’s evident clear that this campaign has not followed that same pattern that had been so consistent in years before.
The likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City were all games that traditionally the Reds raised their level, or in the last decade at least.
But this season has been an exception, as Slot’s side haven’t just struggled against the traditional “big six” of the Premier League, and at times they have been demolished.
With only two wins in ten against the teams of Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham, the Reds have seen a whopping 21 points got elsewhere when facing the teams they should be fighting for trophies with.
Bearing in mind those two wins also only came due to a wonder freekick against the Gunners and playing against nine men at Spurs.
Compared to their title winning season under Arne Slot just last year, Liverpool actually accumulated 21 points from those set of games, only dropping nine against the leagues “traditional” top six, and five of those came after winning the Premier League in late April.
Even during Jurgen Klopp’s last season on Merseyside, his team won 12 points in games against England’s biggest, during a campaign where the German’s side tailed off as the run in became closer to conclusion.
Slot’s ability to get the best out of his squad has been tested, and some would say lacking, as the Reds fanbase has had to witness some tough defeats at the hands of some of their biggest rivals.
Embed from Getty ImagesPremier League losses have come by the hands of both Manchester clubs, with a 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford, which followed a 3-0 humiliation at the Etihad Stadium earlier in the campaign.
A 4-0 defeat to at the home of the Citizens also occurred in the FA Cup, leading to a shift in the opinions of the fans towards their manager.
Embed from Getty ImagesHowever, it’s not these poor days on the road that have caused supporters to voice their concerns about the direction the club is going in, but the draws against Chelsea and Tottenham at Anfield that sent fans into a frenzy about recent performances.
The once fortress that was the Reds’ famous stadium has been invaded multiple times over the course of the season, but these two results in particular that have highlighted the level that Liverpool have been operating at against the top six.
Both Chelsea and Spurs came to Merseyside in frankly dire form, yet the pair were able to get a point out of Slot’s side, causing boos to reverberate around Anfield on each occasion.
That point for Tottenham was the only point Igor Tudor achieved during his spell as the club’s interim manager.
Embed from Getty ImagesWith such a poor record against the six, Liverpool fans will be grateful that their team still find themselves in the top four, as Champions League football continually edges closer with two games left.
Whether the Reds do enough against Aston Villa and Brentford to secure their place in next year edition of Europe’s premier competition is quite irrelevant to the fact that they need to improve against their England rivals, otherwise getting back into a title race will be close to impossible.
Whether Slot is the man to improve this vital stat is yet to be seen, though if the Dutchman is still in charge at Liverpool after the summer break is still a question that needs to be answered before the club can start making moves in the summer transfer window.
Featured image of Anfield during a preseason friendly against Athletic Bilboa: Alex Ridout
Alex Ridout Sports Journalist 