Liverpool's European Fortress Offers Escape from Premier League Struggles

Liverpool's campaign in the Premier League has stuttered alarmingly—just one victory in their last six matches has left them sixth in the table. Yet the European stage tells a strikingly different story, and that contrast could prove decisive in their Champions League ambitions.

A draw at home against Qarabag on Wednesday will seal a last-16 berth for Arne Slot's side, who have already dispatched Inter Milan and Real Madrid while suffering only that November thrashing at PSV Eindhoven. The continental competition's particular demands appear to unlock something the domestic grind has locked away.

Jamie Carragher, speaking to The Athletic, reckons the stylistic differences between English and European football work decisively in Liverpool's favour. The Premier League's current iteration—suffocated by set-piece routines, long throw-ins, and counter-attacking pragmatism—doesn't suit the Reds. The Champions League, by contrast, rewards the kind of flowing, open football that Liverpool have rediscovered in Europe.

"They just have something with the European Cup, and it looks like the team is far more suited to European football than English football, where this season's been about set pieces, long throws, counter-attacks and deep blocks," Carragher explained. "Those situations don't come up as much in Champions League games. The opposition want to come out and have a game of football."

Despite trailing Manchester City and Chelsea domestically, Carragher sees genuine scope for Liverpool to progress deep in Europe. The former Reds defender pointed to Arsenal's comfortable demolition of Serie A leaders Inter—achieved without Declan Rice, Gabriel, or Martin Odegaard—as evidence of English football's physical superiority on the continent. Yet he stopped short of being entirely comfortable with how readily Premier League clubs are navigating Europe's elite.

Bayern Munich remain the standout favourites alongside Arsenal, but Liverpool's European pedigree and current form in continental competition suggest they're far from finished as contenders.

Newcastle United are experiencing similar benefits from the Champions League's more expansive template. Winger Anthony Gordon, who has six goals in seven European matches compared to just two in 18 league appearances, articulated the distinction clearly: the Premier League has become increasingly physical and set-piece dominated, whereas the Champions League remains rooted in a more traditional, flowing style of play.

"The Champions League is a bit more of an older style of game, it's a bit more football-based, teams come and try and play proper football," Gordon told observers. "In the Premier League now you're seeing a lot more long throw-ins, set-pieces. It's become a lot slower and a lot more set-piece based."

With the league phase concluding this week—Newcastle facing Paris Saint-Germain—both sides will discover whether their European form can translate into knockout success.