Florian Wirtz and Liverpool’s downward spiral shows no sign of stopping. The reigning champions suffered their fourth consecutive Premier League defeat in a dramatic 3–2 loss at Brentford on Saturday, 25 October 2025, leaving fans and pundits questioning both Jürgen Klopp’s tactical direction and the German midfielder’s £116 million role at the club.
As The Times reported, Liverpool appeared “porous and strangely hesitant”, while their record signing Wirtz “continues to drift through matches without the killer instinct once expected from the heart of Klopp’s midfield,” The WP Times reports, citing Reuters.
A night of missed chances and exposed weaknesses
Brentford struck early through Dango Ouattara after just five minutes, capitalising on Liverpool’s poor marking. Kevin Schade doubled the hosts’ lead before half-time, while Milos Kerkez briefly restored hope for Liverpool in stoppage time.
The second half brought more frustration: Igor Thiago’s penalty re-established Brentford’s two-goal cushion, and although Mohamed Salah reduced the deficit late on, the comeback never materialised.
According to The Guardian and Reuters, Liverpool have now gone nine league games without a clean sheet, and their latest defeat equals their worst run since 1953. The performance left Klopp visibly frustrated on the touchline, and the manager later admitted the team had “lost control of the basics.”
Florian Wirtz under intense scrutiny
Wirtz, the £116 million German signing once seen as the future of Liverpool’s creativity, once again failed to find the net and was substituted in the second half after a series of misplaced passes.
The Daily Mail noted that he “tried to unlock Brentford’s defence but struggled with pace and timing,” while the Expressadded that he “must adjust to the Premier League’s physicality if he is to justify his price tag.”
The Liverpool Echo called his performance “energetic but erratic,” and Goal.com was more direct, describing him as “a passenger unable to match the rhythm of English football.”
Fan site This Is Anfield recognised his “brilliant vision” but observed that many of his creative attempts “caught teammates and opponents equally off guard.” His substitution, the outlet wrote, was “inevitable and necessary.”
Manager’s reaction: Klopp demands control, courage and belief
After the final whistle at Brentford, Jürgen Klopp stood on the touchline for several moments before speaking to the press — a man visibly wrestling with frustration and disbelief. When he finally did, his verdict was direct and cutting: “We were second best in too many duels. Too passive. Too reactive. You can’t win Premier League matches like that.”
Klopp, who rarely criticises his team in public, did not hide the recurring problems that have haunted Liverpool’s autumn campaign. He admitted that the players had specifically trained to defend Brentford’s long throws and early pressure — yet conceded again after just five minutes. “We knew what was coming and still didn’t deal with it,” he said, shaking his head.
The German manager highlighted a deeper issue beyond tactics: confidence and identity. “This is not about formations. It’s about the mindset. We stop believing the moment something goes wrong. That’s not Liverpool,” he insisted.
According to The Times, Klopp’s tone reflected a man fighting to restore discipline and unity in a team once known for its intensity and mental toughness. The paper wrote that “Liverpool’s collapse is less about talent than belief — a side once feared, now doubting itself.”
While Klopp voiced anger over the penalty that led to Brentford’s third goal, he refused to use officiating as an excuse. “We lost control long before that decision,” he admitted.
Looking ahead, Klopp urged his players to rediscover what he called “the DNA of the team — aggression, courage, and collective trust.”
The manager’s message was simple: without those elements, no amount of talent will save Liverpool’s season.
What comes next for Liverpool
The defeat leaves Liverpool languishing in mid-table, four points off the European spots, and with serious questions over their summer rebuild. Analysts across British media agree: Wirtz symbolises the Reds’ transition pains — talented, intelligent, but not yet adapted to the Premier League’s rhythm and pressure.
As the autumn schedule tightens, Liverpool face an uphill battle to restore both their defensive stability and attacking confidence. The Times warned that without urgent improvements, “this could become the season that defines Liverpool’s decline.”
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