Liverpool entered mid-March as runaway Premier League leaders, yet their mood is anything but secure. A 12-point gap at the top might calm some nerves, but recent defeats to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and Newcastle United in the League Cup final have left a strange aftertaste.
Ever since Jürgen Klopp stepped aside at the end of last season, new boss Arne Slot has tried to prove that Liverpool’s dominance can endure. For a while, he did just that. The team raced out to a double-digit advantage, scoring freely and defending with conviction. But two defeats in five days have punctured the aura around them, causing many to ask the unthinkable: Could Liverpool let the Premier League slip away too?
Liverpool Stumble Again: Title Race Back On?
Virgil van Dijk has offered a blunt warning. “We all have to realize the job’s not done for what we have coming up,” he said. “We have to work our ass off for it.” The big center-back’s frustration came after a penalty shootout heartbreak in Paris and a lethargic 2-1 loss to Newcastle at Wembley. The Cup final exposed fatigue in key players and raised concerns about how Slot has rotated his squad.
Liverpool’s domestic record still dwarfs that of Arsenal, their closest pursuers. The Gunners trail by a dozen points and haven’t looked anywhere near the side that chased last year’s title race into the final weeks. Yet memories linger of how quickly leads can vanish in English football. Even van Dijk has hinted that overconfidence could be Liverpool’s biggest mistake now.
The club’s recent business might also merit scrutiny. Some supporters point to the fact that, after only spending around $36 million in net terms this past summer, there’s a sense that certain positions are light on depth. The midfield, so often a source of dominance, has looked leggy of late. Darwin Núñez, presumably signed to share Mohamed Salah‘s burden, hasn’t started as often as many expected.
Still, it’s hard to argue that losing a couple of matches guarantees a collapse. Liverpool’s 12-point lead should be enough for a side of this caliber, particularly with Arsenal’s own stutters. Yet many believe the missed opportunities in cup finals could start to eat away at morale.
Van Dijk wants everyone to remain alert. “We can’t think it’s a foregone conclusion,” he said. “We have to turn this around.” It’s a reminder that complacency in football is often punished. Slot has little margin for error if he hopes to settle the doubts. A few strong league wins after the international break would seal any cracks, but for now, there is just enough suspense to make observers wonder if Liverpool might find themselves fighting panic instead of celebrating a title.
