Alan Shearer claims Liverpool will be out of the Premier League title race if they suffer defeat against Aston Villa, with the Reds desperate to avoid a fifth consecutive league loss.

Alan Shearer has warned that Liverpool’s Premier League title hopes are hanging by a thread ahead of their clash with Aston Villa this weekend, describing the match as a “do-or-die” moment for Arne Slot’s side.

Liverpool’s once-promising start to their title defence has completely fallen apart over the past month, with defeats to Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Manchester United, and Brentford leaving them reeling. After topping the table and maintaining a perfect record following their 2–0 win over Everton on September 20, the Reds have now slipped to seventh place — seven points adrift of leaders Arsenal.

They now face an in-form Aston Villa side on a four-match winning streak, which includes impressive victories over Tottenham (2–1) and Manchester City (1–0).

Shearer believes Liverpool must win to keep their title dreams alive. “If they lose on Saturday, I don’t see them in the title race,” he told Betfair. “If they win, build confidence, and go on a run, they’ve still got the quality to compete. But Saturday evening is massive — another defeat, and I think they’re out of it.”

The pressure is mounting after six defeats in their last seven games across all competitions, including a dismal 3–0 loss at home to Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup. Despite growing frustration among supporters, Shearer dismissed suggestions that Slot’s job is under threat, insisting that talk of a sacking would be an overreaction.

“Slot did a great job last year,” he said. “He inherited a strong squad, and although they didn’t add much in the summer, he still led them to the title. Right now, it’s not a crisis — but it’s definitely a sticky situation. If Villa win at Anfield, then we might have to call it a crisis.”

Shearer also criticised Slot’s team selection in the Palace defeat, calling it a “gamble that backfired.” However, he admitted it could be justified if Liverpool respond with back-to-back wins this week.

Ultimately, Shearer believes everything hinges on Saturday’s result: “If they win, confidence will return. But if they lose, they can forget about the title.”