Liverpool have stumbled into an unwanted piece of history this season, and it's a defensive issue that's becoming impossible to ignore. The Reds have now conceded the most set-piece goals they've ever shipped in a single Premier League campaign, a troubling milestone that raises serious questions about their organization at the back.

The latest addition to this unwelcome tally came when Enzo Fernandez's speculative free-kick somehow found its way past Giorgi Mamardashvili. It was the 18th set-piece goal Liverpool have conceded in the 2025/26 season—a number that would alarm any top-flight side, let alone one with title aspirations.

Now, no one is suggesting Arne Slot should shoulder the blame for every individual lapse in concentration. That particular free-kick was poorly defended, plain and simple. But the Dutch manager must answer for the broader pattern that allowed Chelsea to equalize just before halftime. The visitors had no business being level at the break.

Liverpool had started the match with real intent. Ryan Gravenberch's opener put them in control, and young Rio Ngumoha was causing chaos on the left flank, pinning Chelsea inside their own half. The Reds had their foot on the gas and the opposition's throat. Then, inexplicably, they eased off. Instead of pressing their advantage, they invited Chelsea back into a game where the Blues had barely managed a foothold.

Where was the control that's supposed to define Arne Slot's football? Where was the home dominance at Anfield? Let's be honest—this Chelsea side isn't exactly a juggernaut. They've been outrun by virtually every opponent they've faced this season. Liverpool should have been putting them away, not handing them a lifeline.

Set-piece vulnerability is no longer a minor concern; it's a glaring weakness that opponents are exploiting week after week. For a club with Liverpool's pedigree, and for a manager building his reputation on tactical discipline, this is a problem that needs fixing fast. The talent is there, but the execution—especially from dead-ball situations—is letting everyone down.