Liverpool spends £390 million and faces a rebuilding crisis.
The 0-3 defeat at the Etihad exposed Liverpool's £390 million project: underwhelming new signings, a dip in Salah's form, and injuries eroding the squad. Arne Slot needs to regain his connection immediately.
The 0-3 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad was not just a setback, but also exposed the flaws in Liverpool's £390 million rebuilding project: new signings haven't integrated, the structure is unbalanced, and Mohamed Salah's decline is leaving the reigning Premier League champions struggling to find their rhythm.
The attacking line needs to be rebuilt from scratch.
Instead of simply addressing weaknesses after winning the championship, Liverpool were forced to restart their entire attacking line. In the same summer, the Merseyside club lost three of their four key strikers: Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, and Diogo Jota. Arne Slot faced a rare dilemma for a champion: not to strengthen their squad, but to rebuild the foundations.
£390 million and five loose pieces
This past summer, Liverpool spent around £390 million on five new signings: Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, and Aleksandar Isak. Nearly halfway through the season, their impact remains minimal.
At the Etihad, only Ekitike and Wirtz played, and neither made a difference. Kerkez was given a trial at the start of the season but soon gave way to Andrew Robertson. Frimpong and Isak are injured. These glimpses show that the rebuilding project is still in disarray and lacks a clear direction.
Downturn in form: decreased energy, imbalanced structure.
The demanding run of matches against Aston Villa and Real Madrid drained Liverpool's energy, leaving them playing without momentum and lacking balance. Salah – once a formidable attacking force – is now considered a step slower than last season. He also lacks the enthusiasm to drop back and support Conor Bradley, disrupting the defensive structure on the right flank and creating gaps in the midfield for opponents to exploit.
The moment is not decisive; the issue lies in the overall picture.
Virgil van Dijk had his equalizer denied at 0-1, and Cody Gakpo missed a golden opportunity when it was 0-2. But those moments couldn't mask the reality: a team that has spent nearly £400 million still hasn't found its rhythm.
Underwhelming rookie: adaptation is more of a problem than talent.
This isn't a story about individual quality. Expert Ian Ladyman believes Liverpool still possesses a squad with great potential: 23-year-old Ekitike, 26-year-old Isak, 22-year-old Wirtz, and Kerkez, who is the same age as Bradley. The issue is the speed of integration, as modern football doesn't allow for long waits.
Without a solid connection, Liverpool not only suffered setbacks but also risked ruining the season. New players hadn't yet found their rhythm with the established pillars, while alternatives (like Kerkez) had to give way to safer options (Robertson), disrupting the rebuilding process.
Tactics from a pragmatic perspective
The Etihad Stadium exposed two problems simultaneously: a weakened right-back position due to a lack of support, and the lack of players in transitional phases due to fatigue after a demanding schedule. When Salah didn't drop deep enough, Bradley was often put in a 1-on-2 situation, pulling the center-backs outward and leaving the inner flank exposed. As a result, Liverpool lost control of crucial spaces, consequently losing both possession and confidence.
Key data
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Total investment for reconstruction | ~390 million pounds |
| Number of new recruits | 5 |
| Results at Etihad | Lost 0-3 to Manchester City |
| New signing makes his debut at Etihad. | Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz |
| Force status | Jeremie Frimpong and Aleksandar Isak are injured. |
Impact and immediate action needed.
Liverpool are running out of steam in their quest to defend their Premier League title. Arne Slot urgently needs to restore Salah's form, rebalance the right flank to provide better central defense, and shorten the adaptation period for Ekitike and Wirtz while Frimpong and Isak are still unavailable. This is a prerequisite to ensure the £390 million investment doesn't become a burden at Anfield.
