It may be over for Arne Slot
When it rains, it pours, and Liverpool is currently being deluged by a torrential downpour of biblical proportions.
There was no relief for the Reds on Wednesday as PSV Eindhoven inflicted a humiliating 4-1 defeat on the Premier League champions at Anfield.
This means they have now lost nine of their last twelve games, something they have not done since 1954. They have conceded three or more goals in three consecutive games for the first time in more than 33 years. Most damning of all, they have the worst losing record of any club in Europe’s top five leagues in all competitions.
What we are seeing now at Liverpool is an unprecedentedly bad run for the club. It goes beyond bad tactics or bad form from protagonists.
Mental disturbances creep into every facet of their game. Virgil van Dijk gave away one of the stupidest penalties you will ever see, putting his hand in the air to stop the ball from a corner. The captain has been awarded three penalties in all competitions this season, more than any other Premier League player.
His partner in the center of defense remains a risk. Ibrahima Konate apparently forgot how to defend himself for PSV’s third place. His form caught the eye of Real Madrid last year; It’s hard to imagine they would be interested in signing him next summer, even on a free transfer.
However much the players take the blame for these inexplicable performances, it will be Arne Slot who faces the music. Is there any way he can turn this around? It only seems to be getting worse and at some point the club has to make a decision.
It would have seemed unthinkable that Liverpool would sack a manager so soon after winning the league title, but at this point it feels inevitable. Sunday’s outing to West Ham gives the feeling of a draw for Slot.
Arsenal are the best team in Europe
Wednesday night was a real litmus test for Arsenal. Bayern Munich have not been beaten in any competition all season, have been at the top of our Power Rankings for two months and have inflicted untold mental damage on the Gunners over the past decade.
Did that matter? Not a little.
Bayern did find a way past Arsenal’s seemingly impregnable defense when they were exposed to a long ball over the top from Joshua Kimmich. Serge Gnabry played in Lennart Karl for a close finish to cancel out Jurrien Timber’s opener.
That was their best chance of the night and the only time they really hurt the North London team at the Emirates Stadium.
The home team turned up the heat after the break, creating six big chances in the second half alone. Noni Madueke scored his first goal since joining the club before Gabriel Martinelli fired one in from distance.
It was a masterful performance and a huge result, taking them top of the Champions League table. They are currently the gold standard.
Read – Arsenal vs Bayern Munich combined XI
Estevao is the next big thing
Lamine Yamal has rightly been hailed as the best emerging talent of the past two seasons, but he was surpassed on Tuesday by another young star emerging at Stamford Bridge.
Estevao Willian was sensational against Barcelona and proved to everyone that he has the ability and potential to become a world-class footballer. In the second half, he held off two defenders with his agile footwork before firing the ball into the roof of the net from a tight angle. Absolute magic.
Estevao magic! 🇧🇷#CFC | #UCL pic.twitter.com/bczsjhZ7Nb
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) November 26, 2025
Yamal didn’t even have a bad game (he completed more dribbles and won more duels than anyone else on the pitch), but this was the Brazilian’s night to savour. We won’t repeat the chant verbatim, but the Chelsea fans are letting him know that he’s just the poor version of Estevao.
Who needs Cole Palmer when you have Estevao?
Read – Chelsea teenager Estevao could be the next ‘Messi or Ronaldo’
Guardiola’s gamble is not paying off
It was a bad week for Manchester City. After enjoying a strong run that saw them lose just once in 14 games in all competitions, they have now lost back-to-back games to reset expectations for the season.
The defeat to Newcastle United last weekend, if we’re being realistic, effectively ended their hopes of winning the Premier League title. Tuesday’s loss against Bayer Leverkusen is certainly not a disaster, but it did cause them to fall out of the top eight of the rankings.
Pep Guardiola took a chance by making ten changes to his starting line-up, but it failed. Alejandro Grimaldo and Patrick Schick made City pay with a goal in each half.
It’s hard to blame Guardiola for his decision; he has to rest his best players at some point, especially ahead of a busy schedule that includes a trip to Real Madrid. This was perhaps the only match where they could afford to drop points, but it leaves them in contention for direct qualification to the round of 16.
Given what happened to them in the Champions League last year, they will be desperate to avoid the play-offs again. Real will be a huge challenge, after which they will have to make a trip to Bodo/Glimt before hosting Galatasaray on the final matchday. They should have enough to win the last two games, but they will be tough games. And as this week has proven, you can’t take anything for granted.
#Champions #League #takeaways #Liverpool #Arsenal #Estevao