Spending £440 million, the great European club still faces a crisis

Liverpool has fallen into crisis after investing £440 million to upgrade their squad. Under Arne Slot, the team has significantly declined, with Mohamed Salah unexpectedly becoming the biggest concern.

Liverpool has spent as much as £440 million in the recent summer transfer window, with experts believing that Arne Slot and his players were on the path to starting a new era of dominance. The blockbuster signings and promises of an “invincible” lineup led many to think that the next championship was only a matter of time.

At the beginning of the season, Liverpool won their first five matches consecutively, creating the impression of a powerful champion. But just weeks later, the harsh reality of English football quickly brought them back down to earth: five defeats in the last six games have pushed the “Red Brigade” to mid-table, shattering their dream of defending the title.

This decline, in fact, is not too surprising. Observers have long pointed out that defending the Premier League title is even harder than winning it. Except for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, hardly any team maintains top form after becoming champions.

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool in 2020 once lost six consecutive home games, Antonio Conte was sacked just one year after winning the title with Chelsea, and Claudio Ranieri faced a similar fate at Leicester.

Indeed, Pep Guardiola, after a 3-0 victory over Liverpool last weekend, emphasized: “Sustaining success in England is extremely difficult.” Man City’s four consecutive titles from 2021 to 2024 have thus become a historic milestone that few can replicate.

For Liverpool, everything is in chaos. The defensive system, once the foundation of their success, is now repeatedly making mistakes, while the expensive new signings have all been disappointing. Florian Wirtz, the record signing at £116.5 million, has been criticized for lacking physicality and not fitting Slot’s system. Alexander Isak, a £130 million recruit, struggles with injuries and poor form. Defenders Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez have also failed to meet expectations.

Amid this turmoil, Mohamed Salah has become the center of controversy. The Egyptian forward has lost his sharpness, is being exploited by opponents due to weak defensive support, and seems to lack the previous hunger. Some suggest that after signing a lucrative new contract, Salah’s motivation has “stalled.”

Liverpool’s problems go beyond tactics or personnel. They are facing the psychological limits of a team aspiring to become a “dynasty” in the Premier League, and history shows that only the greatest squads, like Ferguson’s Man United, Mourinho’s Chelsea, and Guardiola’s Man City, have the resilience to stay at the top of English football again.

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