Liverpool, England – As we dey enter di 2025/26 Premier League season, Liverpool don carry plenty hopes as dem wan defend dia title. But wahala don show face with two consecutive defeats, 2-1 for Crystal Palace and Chelsea. Na wetin sabi vex dem not be small as dem dey enter international break just one point behind table-topper Arsenal. E be like say di Reds get long way to go, abi dem dey chop win when dem no supposed to?
But no be all bad news, sha. Despite di defensive wahala wey dey make dem lose some momentum, Liverpool get many attacking options wey fit make other Premier League teams jealous. Mo Salah, di ‘Egyptian King’ wey don make name for Anfield, dey try find im groove but e no too shine di way wey we sabi. For 33 years old, e don win di Golden Boot four times, and bookmakers dey predict say he go score at least 12 goals and 9 assists this season. (Na dis sets of expectations wey fit make person sip palm wine for ground!)
But as e dey be, im fit struggle to finish as di top scorer dis season, especially with Erling Haaland dey chop di league like say na pepper soup. Di Manchester City striker don already net nine goals in seven matches, and we fit just dey see say Salah need to step up him game. To make matter worse, Salah go join di Pharaohs for Africa Cup of Nations, and dat one fit slow im down. So, Liverpool get to balance di pressure o.
Last season, Salah top di charts wit 29 goals as Liverpool collect dia second Premier League title, but e no go fit carry dat load alone dis time around. Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo na di only other players wey fit score double figures last season, so management don decide to open wallet for summer transfer. Dem buy Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike to help share di goal-making load. E fit work if dem all gel together. (Abi dem no wan hear say dem spend money for bench?)
Florian Wirtz, di Bayer Leverkusen boy wey everybody don dey hail, don fall from grace small as e never score or provide assist since e land Liverpool. Di odds don stack against am, but former Germany international Rudi Voller don talk say Wirtz go soon show im true self once im adapt to Liverpool system. E be like say dem dey expect too much from di young guy too soon.
As Liverpool dey prepare for di big clash with Manchester United on Sunday, di pressure don dey build. Di Reds don lose their last three matches, and no be small wahala dey bele dem for Anfield go meet dia biggest rival. But e no go easy! Key to success fit depend on how di forwards wey don dey misfire lately fit perform.
Di international break gree some players like Gakpo and Salah score goals for dia countries, which fit give dem di required confidence. Gakpo don score three goals for di Netherlands, while Salah fit not just come back into form but also has history of terrorising di Red Devils with 16 goals across im Anfield career. (E gatz set dem shakes!)
Di question wey dey on everybody mind na: Who go lead di line for dis match? Is it Ekitike or Alexander Isak? Doha, na wahala wey coach Slot go deal with every week, but lucky for him, e get options, and dat na plus for Liverpool. If dem fit blend together, dem fit turn around dia season quick. E go better gree dem jolly for Anfield again.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor@nnn.ng
