'Almost too easy' – Sol Campbell explains what’s gone wrong at Liverpool this season

Former Arsenal and England defender Sol Campbell has offered a blunt assessment of what has gone wrong at Liverpool this season, arguing that the team have lost the intensity, focus and collective edge that previously made them so hard to play against. Drawing a contrast with their title-winning peak, he suggests that certain games now look “almost too easy” in the minds of some players, leading to subtle but costly drops in concentration and work rate.

Campbell points to a combination of complacency, tactical slippage and physical as well as mental fatigue. In his view, Liverpool’s hallmark under Jürgen Klopp was an aggressive, synchronised press and ferocious hunger in and out of possession; this season, he believes those habits have not been reproduced consistently. Opponents are finding more space between the lines, breaking Liverpool’s press more often, and exploiting defensive lapses that were previously rare.

He also highlights issues with game management and defensive structure. Where Liverpool once controlled games from front to back, Campbell feels they are now leaving their back line exposed, with gaps appearing in midfield and full-backs caught too high at key moments. Small errors, he argues, are being punished because the overall organisation and protection for the defence are not at the level of previous seasons.

Campbell further notes that several key players have dipped below their former standards, whether due to injuries, age, or confidence. The blend that made Liverpool so formidable – pace, physicality, and relentless mentality – has been diluted, and the squad has not yet fully recalibrated. To recover, he believes Liverpool must rediscover their “ruthless” edge, re-establish their pressing identity, and re-inject genuine competition and urgency throughout the squad.