This isn’t last season’s Liverpool. That much was evident with Jeremie Frimpong starting on the wing instead of Mohamed Salah. It became even clearer when Galatasaray defeated the Reds 1-0 at Rams Park in Istanbul.

Rotation is essential for managing a squad facing Chelsea this weekend. Yet, Frimpong’s signing to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold and the inclusion of Dominik Szoboszlai at right back suggest considerable work ahead for coach Arne Slot to elevate this team back to the level of last season’s champions. Losing back-to-back matches reveals underlying issues, and Jamie Carragher, a former Liverpool player and CBS Sports analyst, is critical of the team’s current state.

“It’s concerning, but the last two games aren’t just concerning. I think Liverpool’s full nine games this season have been very concerning.”
– Jamie Carragher

The manager must now address numerous challenges, as the previous season was unusually smooth for Liverpool. Carragher identifies Florian Wirtz as a significant issue, suggesting he should be benched to restore team dynamics. Wirtz, brought in from Bayer Leverkusen, seems overwhelmed, with his contributions dwindling in terms of shots and chances created.

As the Reds stand just ahead of Arsenal in the Premier League, the impending match against Chelsea looms large. Slot must recalibrate the squad to regain its footing and return to winning form.