Liverpool supporters may have written off their team’s chances of retaining the Premier League title after last weekend’s defeat to Manchester City.

The Reds were played off the park by Pep Guardiola’s team, succumbing to a 3-0 loss which could really have been even heavier.

The defeat left them four points behind second-place City and a further four behind leaders Arsenal. It looks a long way back from here.

However, there are still 27 Premier League matches left to play in the 2025/26 campaign. It is far from over at this point.

Given the quality within the Liverpool squad, there should be an expectation that the Reds can return to form at some point and can still make a fist of a title challenge.

If that is to happen, however, then it really needs to be within the next five matches following the November international break. Liverpool have a chance to claw themselves back, but the next period of the season could also rule them out of contention completely.

Liverpool can close the gap to Arsenal

Clearly, Liverpool have been a long way from their expected standards at times this season. Five losses in six Premier League matches is unforgivable form from the champions.

Nevertheless, it is also fair to point out that Liverpool have had an especially difficult run of fixtures. With games against Chelsea, Man United, Man City and away at Crystal Palace and Brentford, there has been no let up for Arne Slot’s Reds.

That changes a little once Liverpool return next week. Indeed, the Reds finally have some ‘easier’ matches to look forward to.

Their next five fixtures include three at Anfield, all against lower or midtable sides. First up are Nottingham Forest, while Sunderland and Brighton also visit Merseyside. Liverpool have to win all three.

The away games look somewhat more straightforward as well, with the Reds heading to face two of the current bottom five in West Ham and Leeds United.

While Liverpool should really be looking at 15 points from 15 – or 13 at the very least, Arsenal finally have a tough run on the horizon themselves.

A North London derby awaits them after the break, followed up by a trip to Stamford Bridge. An evening home match with Brentford and a Saturday lunchtime away at Aston Villa also look like tricky ones for Mikel Arteta’s team to navigate.

They finish the five with what will likely be a win at home against Wolves, but if they drop points in two or more of those matches -and Liverpool win theirs – then things will look a whole lot better.

Liverpool’s season could unravel

If positive results in the next five games – coupled with some negativity around Arsenal – can change the course of Liverpool’s Premier League title defence, then bad ones will blow it up completely.

Liverpool have to start putting points on the board, if they cannot win at least three or four of their next five matches, it will be abundantly clear that something rotten is festering at Anfield.

Alternatively, if Arsenal go on the march and breeze through some difficult games, then it won’t matter what Liverpool do.

Either way, we are likely to know much more about what to expect from the rest of the season once the next five matches are played.