Liverpool’s current form is very poor, especially in the Premier League.

The 2024/25 Premier League champions have failed to win any of their past five Premier League games, taking just four points.

The Red Army lost 3-2 to Bournemouth in their last game and currently rank sixth in the league with 36 points.

After losing, both Manchester United and Chelsea managed to surpass them by winning their respective games.

Liverpool’s form could cost them a place in next season’s Champions League.

However, it is quite remarkable that two stalwarts, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, have fallen out of favor.

Liverpool’s form: Premier League champions look a shadow of their former self

Salah is in his ninth season at Anfield and has scored 250 goals in 423 appearances for the Reds.

The Egyptian king reached the impressive milestone of 250 goals for the Reds almost three months ago. However, he has not scored a goal for the club since then and his off-field issues with Arne Slaughter have been more noticeable than his on-field performances.

The 33-year-old has only scored five goals in 22 games this season, which is definitely not the return the club expected.

He will turn 34 in a few months and may well have his best years as a footballer behind him, with Liverpool’s form having dipped in recent weeks and their Egyptian goalscoring somewhat lacking.

Van Dijk is also entering his ninth season with Liverpool and recently reached the milestone of 350 appearances for the club.

The Dutch centre-back has been probably the best centre-back in the world for much of the past decade.

However, as his memorable performance against Bournemouth pointed out, the 34-year-old has lost much of his invincible quality as a centre-back.

Van Dijk scored at least two goals for Bournemouth that day, but he clearly struggled to lead the defense by example.

The situation is made worse by the fact that neither Ibrahima Konate nor Joe Gomez has laid claim to being his permanent defensive partner due to injury or lack of form. Therefore, defensive problems have been the main reason for Liverpool’s poor form.

Van Dijk still poses a considerable aerial threat to opposition defenders from set pieces, but it is not enough. Liverpool currently do not have another mobile defender to fill the void of the Dutch big man.

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Liverpool’s form: What’s next for the Reds?

During the African Cup of Nations in Salah’s absence, Arne Slott tried, without success, to use Dominic Szoboszlai and Jeremy Frimpong on the right wing.

Apart from Salah, the Reds have no suitable left-footed winger who can play on the right side of the pitch.

Therefore, they currently have few options but to use the Egyptian in this position despite their poor form.

The defensive woes were even worse, with the Reds unable to even give Van Dijk a period of rest.

Liverpool extended the contracts of Salah and Van Dijk last year, which in hindsight was not the best decision.

Salah and Van Dijk won two Premier League titles and a Champions League with the Reds, but they did little to improve Liverpool’s form as the Premier League champions are currently going through some worrying times.

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Credit: Alfie Cosgrove/News Photo

Record date: September 17, 2025