Seven defeats in eight away games: Liverpool crumble when it matters most

Arne Slot insists Liverpool only need "a little bit of transition" in the upcoming transfer window and remains convinced he will still be in charge next season, but the reality is becoming increasingly brutal for the Reds.

Their chaotic 4-2 defeat at Aston Villa on Friday night exposed once again the biggest issue behind Liverpool's collapse - they simply cannot compete against the Premier League's strongest sides this season.

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The numbers are damning. Away from home against the rest of the current top nine, Liverpool have played eight matches, lost seven and drawn one! Across all competitions, Villa handed them a 19th defeat of the campaign, while the cracks in defence and midfield continue to widen at the worst possible moment.

"I can understand that at this moment in time the fans don't have confidence or the feeling that things can be much better next season," Slot admitted after the defeat. "But I think they are underestimating what a transfer window can do and what a new start can do."

Liverpool's problems can no longer be explained purely through injuries. Despite having a full week to prepare for recent clashes against Manchester United, Chelsea and Aston Villa, Slot's side produced three deeply underwhelming performances and collected just one point from those matches.

Defensively, the numbers are alarming. Liverpool have now conceded 52 Premier League goals this season - their worst record in a 38-game campaign, while no side in the division has allowed more non-penalty set-piece goals.

"We've conceded far too many goals, but I also think we haven't scored enough," Slot told Sky Sports. "We were fully in the game, maybe able to get a result, but after it became 2-1, we crumbled."

Villa striker Ollie Watkins certainly sensed the vulnerability.

"They're disjointed at the back and I feel like there's a lot of space for me to run into," Watkins said after scoring twice. "I'm going to get chances against them."

That feeling has become increasingly common among Liverpool's biggest rivals this season.

What once looked like a comfortable route into next season's Champions League has now become a nervy scramble. Bournemouth and Brighton remain capable of overtaking Liverpool if results go against them over the final two matches.

The uncomfortable reality for Slot is that Liverpool's fate is no longer entirely in their own hands - and with Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson expected to bid farewell at Anfield next weekend, the mood around the club has shifted dramatically from optimism to uncertainty.

PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 37

Friday

Aston Villa - Liverpool 4-2 (1-0)

/Rogers 42, Watkins 57, 73, McGinn 89 - Van Dijk 52, 90+2/

Sunday

14.30: (1.65) Man Utd (4.50) Nott Forest (4.90)

17.00: (1.75) Brentford (4.20) Crystal Palace (4.25)

17.00: (1.85) Everton (3.80) Sunderland (4.00)

17.00: (3.20) Leeds (3.60) Brighton (2.20)

17.00: (3.70) Wolverhampton (4.00) Fulham (1.95)

19.30: (2.15) Newcastle (3.95) West Ham (3.20)

Monday

22.00: (1.10) Arsenal (10.0) Burnley (22.0)

Tuesday

21.30: (4.90) Bournemouth (3.90) Man City (1.70)

22.15: (2.15) Chelsea (3.50) Tottenham (3.30)

***odds are subject to change***