Liverpool return to Anfield desperately needing a response after a dismal run of results that has seen them lose four of their last five matches in all competitions their only win in that stretch coming in the UEFA Champions League away to Eintracht Frankfurt, Softfootball reports.

The Reds’ defensive frailties have been exposed in recent weeks, with costly lapses leading to goals conceded at crucial moments. However, the Carabao Cup presents a chance to steady the ship and restore confidence within Arne Slot’s side.

Liverpool have traditionally thrived in this competition, having progressed from 12 of their last 14 ties against Premier League opposition, and their record at Anfield in domestic cup games remains one of the best in England.

On the other hand, Crystal Palace head into this tie looking to bounce back from a narrow 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at the weekend in the Premier League. Despite their recent struggles in the league with no wins in their last four matches, Oliver Glasner’s men have shown resilience and tactical discipline against bigger sides.

Palace famously defeated Liverpool in their last league meeting and will see this as another opportunity to upset the odds. Their ability to stay compact and hit on the counter could make them a tricky opponent for a Liverpool side low on confidence and struggling to keep clean sheets.

Team News

Liverpool are still without first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker, while young defender Giovanni Leoni remains sidelined with a long-term ACL injury. Midfielders Ryan Gravenberch and Alexander Isak are both doubtful for this clash, and Arne Slot is unlikely to risk either player given the congested fixture schedule ahead.

Playing in the fourth round of the Carabao cup will allow Liverpool to give opportunities to academy players to gain valuable experience. Freddie woodman who is expected to start in goal for the reds tomorrow in Spoke to the Liverpool media via the team’s official X handle, on his journey and how it feels for him to wear and fight the Liverpool badge. They posted:

"Really excited for the opportunity that could come." pic.twitter.com/Q8giCgoeBS

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 28, 2025

The Dutch manager is expected to rotate his side, handing opportunities to fringe players and youngsters such as freddie woodman and Rio Ngumoha to impress. Slot will be eager for a strong response from his squad as they look to rediscover their rhythm and confidence after a difficult few weeks.

Crystal Palace, on the other hand, have fewer injury concerns. Cheick Doucouré and Chadi Riad are unavailable, but Glasner is expected to field a strong lineup. With players like Nketiah and Yaser Asprilla showing flashes of form, the Eagles will look to test Liverpool’s backline early and capitalize on any defensive errors.

Possible Lineups

Liverpool possible starting lineup:

Woodman; Ramsay, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Endo, Mac Allister; Chiesa, Szoboszlai, Ngumoha; Ekitike

Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:

Benitez; Canvot, Lacroix, Guehi; Clyne, Lerma, Hughes, Sosa; Esse, Devenny; Nketiah

Crystal palace have beaten Liverpool once earlier this season at Anfield in dramatic late 3-2 win.The team via its official X handle, posted highlights from that huge win as they hope for similar outcome in tomorrow’s fourth round matchup. Watch video below:

Relive THAT Eddie Nketiah goal against Liverpool pic.twitter.com/QZgDYXiSIY

— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) October 28, 2025

SoftFootball Prediction

This Carabao Cup clash promises to be tightly contested. Liverpool will be under pressure to deliver a performance in front of the anfield supporters, after a rough spell that has shaken confidence in the squad. Palace, meanwhile, will see this as a free hit, an opportunity to continue their solid record against the Reds and advance further in the competition.

While Liverpool’s attacking depth could make the difference late on, Palace’s compactness and counter-attacking threat suggest the visitors won’t make things easy. Expect a evenly contested matchup, with moments of quality deciding the outcome.

Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Crystal Palace

Liverpool’s Carabao Cup fourth-round clash against Crystal Palace on Wednesday might be just another fixture on paper, but Softfootball understands that for Freddie Woodman, it’s a night that could mean everything.

The 28-year-old goalkeeper, signed on a free from Preston North End, is expected to make his competitive debut for Liverpool, stepping in while Alisson Becker recovers from a hamstring injury. For most players, that’s a massive occasion already. For Woodman, it’s personal.

Born and raised in south London, Woodman grew up a passionate Crystal Palace fan. His earliest memories of football are tied to Selhurst Park; he was once a ballboy there, even a mascot. His father, Andy Woodman, also played for the Eagles, which made the family’s connection to the club even deeper. He revealed this in an interview he granted, which was uploaded via the club’s official X account.

He said:

I got into football quite late really in terms of the playing side of things, Obviously I watched my dad [former professional goalkeeper Andy] growing up but I just played a little bit here and there.

It was completely random how it happened for me, really. I was at secondary school and we used to rotate the team around. It was my turn to go in goal one day and I had a teacher at the time, Mr Bruce, who was a coach for Crystal Palace. After the session, he came up to me and said he wanted me to go down to Crystal Palace Park, where the academy set-up was based, that evening and take a trial. And that’s where it all started for me.

I used to go down to Selhurst with my grandad as he had a season ticket down there. I was a ballboy a few times and also a mascot and I just used to love it. Being a south London lad, being a Crystal Palace fan was just born into me really.

Now, fate brings him full circle. Standing between the posts at Anfield, facing the very club where it all started, it’s the sort of story football writes when it wants to remind us that dreams and destiny still matter.

Watch the interview video:

"Really excited for the opportunity that could come." pic.twitter.com/Q8giCgoeBS

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 28, 2025

Liverpool manager Arne Slot, who’s been under serious pressure after four straight Premier League defeats following their 3-2 defeat to Brentford, is expected to rotate his squad. That means Woodman could finally get his long-awaited chance to prove himself under the lights, an opportunity the midfielder can’t wait to fully grasp, as he revealed further in his interview.

He said:

Any time I get to pull on the jersey for this club, whether it be a pre-season game or whatever competition, I’ll always just try to do my best and enjoy the moment, because I’ve spent a lot of time playing in the Championship, and so to play for a club with this history is pretty special.

It’s clear that this club takes the competition seriously, like it does every competition. When you get to the latter stages, you go to Wembley, and you see how important it is to the fans.

We train in the goalkeeping area at the AXA Training Centre, and I regularly see the photo of Caoimhin Kelleher on the wall after his success in the recent finals, and that’s how important it is. You can really write yourself into history if you win trophies at this club, so I know how important it is, and the club recognises how important this competition is too.

For Liverpool it is not just another cup tie; it’s a chance for them to gather themselves again. Just like Virgil van Dijk revealed in a previous interview, it is a time for the club to sit back and reflect. While for Woodman, it’s a reunion, a memory, and maybe even a redemption rolled into one night at Anfield, a debut written with heart, history, and a touch of home.

Liverpool have now suffered four consecutive Premier League defeats, with the latest misery for the defending champions inflicted by Brentford at the Community Stadium on Saturday evening. Goals from Dango Ouattara (5’), Kevin Schade (45’), and Igor Thiago (60’ pen) secured the win for the Bees, while Milos Kerkez (45+5’) and Mohamed Salah (89’) struck […]

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Liverpool’s 2025–26 Premier League campaign has taken a worrying turn under head coach Arne Slot. After starting the season with five straight wins, the Reds have now lost four consecutive league matches, and most recently Brentford, who beat them 3–2 as reported by Softfootball. The slump equals their total number of defeats from the entire previous season, signalling a serious regression for the reigning champions.

Slot admitted the performance at the Gtech Community Stadium was up there among his most disappointing since taking charge, as posted on the club’s official YouTube account. He said:

You are always hoping for a better result. But I was also hoping and expecting a better performance, because the performance was far from what we are used to.

Despite goals from Milos Kerkez and Mohamed Salah, Liverpool could not recover after conceding early to Dango Ouattara and Kevin Schade. The manager conceded that basic errors and poor duelling cost his side dearly, saying:

It’s hard to win a game of football if the other team wins more duels and more second balls than you.

His assessment echoed that of captain Virgil van Dijk, who, as reported by Softfootball, said that everyone has to look in the mirror, including himself.

The Dutch coach also revealed that Liverpool spent their final training session focusing solely on defending long throws from Brentford’s Kayode. He said:

It’s the only thing we did yesterday on the training pitch. Yet we conceded from that after five minutes.

Watch the video below:

Slot admitted that tactical preparation alone means little without concentration and communication, insisting that defending is a collective job of all 11 players.

Frustrated but not defeated, Slot urged patience, noting that summer changes and a difficult run of five away fixtures from their last six have affected rhythm. He said:

I didn’t expect it to go with four losses in a row. But we have to stay together, work harder, and find our answers quickly.

Following Liverpool’s poor run of form, captain Virgil van Dijk has delivered a candid and introspective message to his teammates and fans alike. The Dutch defender admitted that everyone in the squad must take responsibility, saying:

Everyone has to look in the mirror, including myself.

His comments come amid what one can describe as one of Liverpool’s toughest spells in recent seasons, with four losses in their last five Premier League matches. Reflecting on the defensive lapses that cost them against United and again in the 3–2 defeat at Brentford as reported by Softfootball, Van Dijk pointed to the team’s collective errors. He said:

We worked so hard to get back into the game, but if you concede a second goal like that, that’s the disappointing part.

The skipper admitted the Reds have been too rushed in possession and are making wrong decisions, leaving them exposed in transitions, a problem Arne Slot’s side appeared to fix briefly during their 5–1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League, as reported by Softfootball.

Van Dijk’s message, however, went beyond tactics. The 34-year-old urged unity within the dressing room and called on fans to stand by the team during this rough patch, as posted by Fabrizio Romano on his official X account. He said, reminding supporters of last season’s title celebrations at Anfield:

It’s not only us as players but also together with our fans and everyone who wants us to win.

Van Dijk: “Everyone has to look in the mirror including myself”.

“I am sure we will get out of this. But we won't do it just by talking about it. We will try to improve”.

“The fans who were celebrating with us last season should stand by us now”. pic.twitter.com/hOhGZRqeoJ

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 26, 2025

His appeal aligns with his earlier remarks in a Softfootball feature, where he warned that this campaign would test Liverpool’s mentality more than ever.

Despite the growing criticism from pundits like Jamie Carragher and Craig Burley, Van Dijk remains steadfast:

We won’t get out of this just by talking about it. We will try to improve.

With key Champions League and Premier League fixtures on the horizon, his leadership and composure could be crucial in guiding Liverpool back to stability.

Liverpool’s Premier League title defence is going from bad to worse, as Arne Slot’s men slumped to a fourth straight league defeat, losing 3-2 to a spirited Brentford side in west London, Softfootball reports.

Fresh from a confidence-boosting 5-1 win over Frankfurt in the UEFA Champions League, many expected Liverpool to build on that result. But instead, they were stunned just five minutes in when Michael Kayode’s long throw caused chaos in the box, Kristoffer Ajer flicked it on, and Dango Ouattara smashed home a superb volley to put the Bees ahead.

Liverpool tried to hit back immediately. Mohamed Salah forced a sharp save from former Reds goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher, while new boy Florian Wirtz still chasing his first goal for the club,scuffed wide from a promising position. But Brentford, coming into the game high on confidence after their 2-0 win last weekend where Igor Thiago also found the net, refused to sit back.

The hosts kept pushing, and Giorgi Mamardashvili had to pull off a sensational one-handed save to deny Mikkel Damsgaard. Moments later, Damsgaard turned creator, slipping a clever pass through to Kevin Schade, who raced clear and made no mistake with a composed finish to make it 2-0.

Just when it looked like Liverpool were sinking, they grabbed a lifeline in controversial circumstances. Deep into first-half stoppage time — two minutes after the added time had expired — Milos Kerkez popped up at the far post to turn in Conor Bradley’s cross and halve the deficit before the break.

Any hopes of a comeback were quickly dashed, though. Brentford continued to look dangerous after the restart, and their pressure paid off again when VAR ruled that Virgil van Dijk had brought down Ouattara right on the edge of the box. Igor Thiago stepped up and coolly slotted home from the spot for his fourth goal in as many games, restoring the Bees’ two-goal cushion.

Arne Slot emptied his bench, bringing on four players in quick succession in a desperate attempt to spark a revival. Salah gave Liverpool a glimmer of hope late on with a thunderous strike that went in off the underside of the bar ending his six-game goal drought at club level but it proved too little, too late.

Interestingly after the game, Brentford via its official X handle posted the post match reactions of the players to this well earned victory over the current PL champions in front of their home fans. They posted:

post-match scenes pic.twitter.com/hYW12GcCAd

— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) October 25, 2025

The final whistle confirmed another disappointing night for Liverpool, who have now lost five straight matches in London for the first time since 1970. Brentford, meanwhile, celebrated a famous win, their third victory in four league games as the Bees continue to buzz their way up the table and leave the champions searching for answers.

Liverpool is set for a Premier League clash with Brentford this Saturday at the Gtech Community Stadium. The Reds are looking to build on their recent boost of confidence, while Brentford aim to continue their strong home form.

For Brentford, it’s been a bit of a roller coaster season with some good times and some bad times. Softfootball reported how they pulled in a big win against West Ham, defeating them 2-0 away from home. Under Keith Andrews, the Bees aim to play a clever, tactical game to frustrate stronger opponents, while also using their pace to catch teams off-guard.

For Liverpool, it hasn’t been an easy run, but their electrifying 5-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt after a series of defeats has helped them regain confidence. Historically, Liverpool have dominated this fixture, with 15 wins compared to Brentford’s 4.

Speaking in a press conference ahead of the match between Liverpool and Brentford, Arne Slot highlighted the status of his players, Mohammed Salah’s form and the challenges of the match.

Slot spoke in favor of Salah who has played a few matches without scoring, classifying the Egyptian star as one of the most reliable players in the team. He said:

The main thing is that Mo has always scored goals for our club. The last thing I worry about is Mo starting to score goals again because that’s what he’s done his whole life and what I expect him to do in the upcoming weeks and months for our club as well

When asked about the squad changes affect Salah’s form, the manager reflected on summer changes and their possible impact, saying:

It could. Not particularly maybe the right full-back, but it could [be]… for every player if you have quite a few changes in your squad during the summer then everyone needs to find new connections again… Mo is not an exception to this because he’s also a human being like all the others…

Slot noted Curtis Jones’ commanding midfield display against Frankfurt, explaining the tactical setup behind his influence:

I’m not so surprised that he touched the ball a lot because I positioned him and Dom a bit lower… Curtis has played a very good game against Frankfurt.

Speaking on the challenge of selecting the best XI, Slot said:

It’s not only about new signings… It’s about a lot of very good players, so what is your best line-up? The team you face, the tactics the other team plays with, the form of the player and the connections between the players… you can also have moments in the season where things are a bit more difficult.

He added that integrating new signings in matches also plays a role:

It was maybe also the first time there was an opportunity to play with both Alex and Hugo because of Alex missing out for so long… certain players bring different characteristics.

Watch the press conference below as was shared in the club’s verified X handle:

Join Arne Slot live as he previews tomorrow’s Premier League trip to Brentford #BRELIV https://t.co/5Jnj6funGv

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 24, 2025

Keith Andrews, the head coach of Brentford also spoke ahead of the match. As shared in the club’s verified X handle, He sounded positive on the team’s recent performance and talked about the need for improvements.

The performance levels of so many aspects on Monday were very pleasing. There’s always things you can tweak. Naturally you can become a little bit more demanding, and fine tune, when everybody is in a good place. We need to build on that

He also spoke about his team’s preparation for the match against Liverpool. He admitted that the game will be tough but his players are ready.

Keith Andrews on Liverpool gameplan

"We have to manage the game. We are well aware of the strengths that they have. We’ll see what their teamsheet brings tomorrow evening. We’ll be prepared for it and are really looking forward to it" pic.twitter.com/aqE8az4jRp

— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) October 24, 2025

Team News

For Liverpool, Alexandra Isak’s coming back is in doubt especially as he had come off at half-time in the game with Eintracht Frankfurt because of his groin injury. It is also not certain if Ryan Gravenberch will be playing in the match because of his ankle injury. Jeremie Frimpong, Alisson Becker, and Giovanni Leoni remain out.

For Brentford, Antoni Milambo and Paris Maghoma will not play because of an ACL and thigh injuries respectively. There is doubt about Aaron Hickey because of a knock to his knee.

Possible Lineups:

Brentford (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Collins, Van den Berg, Pinnock; Kayode, Henderson, Yarmolyuk, Lewis-Potter; Damsgaard; Schade, Thiago

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Bradley; Konaté; Virgil van Dijk; Robertson; Mac Allister; Jones; Salah; Szoboszlai; Gakpo; Ekitike.

Prediction:

With Liverpool’s superior quality, they could win with a 2-1 scoreline but Brentford will still make the game tough for them because of their strength at home.

Matchday 3 of the UEFA Champions League delivered drama, goals, and statements of intent from Europe’s heavyweights. Across two nights, the continent’s top clubs flexed their muscles, while others were left scrambling to keep their campaigns alive. Here’s a full roundup of the action from October 21 and 22. Tuesday, October 21: Fireworks in Spain, […]

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Michael Olise’s future is already a hot topic in the Premier League despite his recent move to Bayern Munich. Several English clubs are reportedly monitoring the French winger, who has impressed since leaving Crystal Palace for the Bundesliga champions. Olise has quickly become an important figure for Bayern, delivering creativity and goals in a side […]

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The post No release clause in Michael Olise contract – Bayern sporting director Eberl appeared first on Soccer News.