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Why a fifth straight defeat for Liverpool in the Champions League tonight is simply unthinkable
Of all the indignities heaped on Liverpool in recent weeks, Sunday’s 2-1 home defeat to Manchester United left the deepest wound.
Arne Slot’s side, the reigning Premier League champions, were facing a far from vintage United outfit, yet Ruben Amorim’s men ran out worthy victors.
Amorim pointed at a Liverpool side wobbling alarmingly and struggling for confidence and urged his team to expose them.
It was United’s first victory at their sworn enemies’ home since Wayne Rooney scored the winner there in January 2016.
More worryingly, it was a fourth straight defeat for Liverpool in what marks their worst run since November 2014 in the dark days under Brendan Rodgers.
Tonight’s Champions League trip to Eintracht Frankfurt has thus taken on added importance.
You have to go all the way back to 1953 for the last time Liverpool lost five consecutive matches.
Defeat in Germany this evening really is unthinkable for Slot and his players, but Sunday’s loss to United will hardly have bolstered their already fragile confidence.
Losing at home to your most hated rival leaves deep scars and the pain will be felt amongst Liverpool players and supporters for some time yet.
Moreover, the result was a damning indictment of the current failings of a Reds team who are now under huge pressure to halt their slide against Frankfurt.
Let it be remembered that Liverpool spent more than £400million in the summer and were tipped as huge favourites to win the Premier League again.
With the likes of Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak bolstering a side already dripping with talent in every department, who could stop the Slot machine marching to more silverware?
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The truth is, though, that Liverpool have not been convincing all season – even when they were winning.
They scraped to a few early victories which papered over the cracks of their defensive shortcomings.
Their recent run of four consecutive losses exposed Liverpool’s new vulnerabilities and the problems are mounting up for Slot.
Giorgi Mamardashvili does not have the presence of Allison Becker in goal and Milos Kerkez has yet to convince at left-back.
Even captain Virgil van Dijk – such a key figure in the club’s success under Jurgen Klopp and in last season’s title win under Slot – is looking a little shaky.
Then again, he is not the only one.
Liverpool’s frontline is undeniably failing to fire, with Isak and Mohamed Salah looking some way off their best against United on Sunday.
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Isak has scored just one goal since arriving from Newcastle in a staggering £125million transfer.
Salah looks like he has lost his mojo and there are growing calls for Ekitike to start in Germany this evening.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s exceptional range of passing – either from right-back or the centre of midfield – has also been missed following his summer defection to Real Madrid.
However, there is enough quality within Liverpool’s ranks to halt their slide and start winning football matches again.
Tonight in the Champions League at Frankfurt represents the perfect opportunity to prove that recent slump was merely a blip – and not a full-blown crisis.
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How to watch the Champions League in the USA on DAZN
Soccer fans in the US can watch select matches in the Champions League in Spanish language as part of their DAZN subscription package.
An annual upfront payment is $224.99, while paying monthly for 12 months is $19.99 and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
CBS has coverage of every Champions League match in English language this season. You can get more details and subscribe to CBS's Champions League coverage here.
Fans can watch extra Champions League games in Spanish on ViX. A selection of those matches are also available on UNIMÁS and TUDN.
How to watch the Champions League in New Zealand on DAZN
Every Champions League game during the 2025-26 season is streamed in high-definition and comes as part of a DAZN subscription.
An annual subscription costs $14.99 per month for 12 months and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
How to watch the Champions League in Canada on DAZN
Watch every game of the Champions League this season in Canada with a DAZN subscription.
There are three subscription options, offering differing selections of sports in each. Access to every Champions League match is included in all three package offerings, ranging from $29.99 to $44.99 per month (for 12 months)
