Liverpool's summer spending spree yielded £424m, but what was their intended strategy? As the team struggled to find cohesion, it became apparent that they were trying to change too much at once. The arrival of players like Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike was meant to provide a fresh perspective, with the idea being to rotate them in and out of the starting lineup. However, this plan fell flat, leaving many wondering what Liverpool's true intention was.
One possible answer lies in the team's tactical approach, which seemed to be an attempt to revert to a more traditional setup. The return to last season's midfield, coupled with the selection of 10 players from that era against Aston Villa and Real Madrid, suggested that Arne Slot was trying to rediscover a sense of stability. However, this 'back to basics' approach only served to expose Liverpool's vulnerabilities when opponents played long balls behind their defense.
It is clear that Liverpool's financial muscle allowed them to pursue multiple objectives at once, making it challenging for the team to settle on a unified strategy. The arrival of Florian Wirtz, who cost £100m plus add-ons, posed a significant question mark over his role in the team. Slot initially preferred Wirtz as a central creator, but this plan ultimately led to Liverpool being left open at the back.
The presence of Mohamed Salah, whose lack of natural defensive capacity has long been a concern for the club, added another layer of complexity to the situation. With Wirtz struggling to adapt to the Premier League's physical demands, it is hard to envision how all four players could be deployed together without risking the midfield being overwhelmed.
Perhaps Liverpool were always planning to adopt a 4-3-1-2 setup, with Wirtz operating behind Alexander Isak and Ekitike. However, this would have required significant adjustments to the team's defensive structure and has yet to materialize.
Ultimately, Liverpool's summer spending spree appears to be a cautionary tale about how throwing money at a problem can sometimes make it worse. As the team struggles to find its footing, one thing is clear: their lack of cohesion stems from an overly ambitious attempt to change too much at once.
One possible answer lies in the team's tactical approach, which seemed to be an attempt to revert to a more traditional setup. The return to last season's midfield, coupled with the selection of 10 players from that era against Aston Villa and Real Madrid, suggested that Arne Slot was trying to rediscover a sense of stability. However, this 'back to basics' approach only served to expose Liverpool's vulnerabilities when opponents played long balls behind their defense.
It is clear that Liverpool's financial muscle allowed them to pursue multiple objectives at once, making it challenging for the team to settle on a unified strategy. The arrival of Florian Wirtz, who cost £100m plus add-ons, posed a significant question mark over his role in the team. Slot initially preferred Wirtz as a central creator, but this plan ultimately led to Liverpool being left open at the back.
The presence of Mohamed Salah, whose lack of natural defensive capacity has long been a concern for the club, added another layer of complexity to the situation. With Wirtz struggling to adapt to the Premier League's physical demands, it is hard to envision how all four players could be deployed together without risking the midfield being overwhelmed.
Perhaps Liverpool were always planning to adopt a 4-3-1-2 setup, with Wirtz operating behind Alexander Isak and Ekitike. However, this would have required significant adjustments to the team's defensive structure and has yet to materialize.
Ultimately, Liverpool's summer spending spree appears to be a cautionary tale about how throwing money at a problem can sometimes make it worse. As the team struggles to find its footing, one thing is clear: their lack of cohesion stems from an overly ambitious attempt to change too much at once.