Liverpool’s £390 million investment in new talent is failing to yield results. Manager Arne Slot’s much-touted “perfect” combination of players has struggled to make an impact, leaving the Reds in a precarious position this season.
The reality is that Liverpool faced a significant challenge even before attempting to move forward. After winning the Premier League last season, the team lost a large portion of its forward line. The departures of Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez had been anticipated, but Diogo Jota’s exit came as a shock.
For most title-winning teams, the focus is on strengthening an already solid squad. For Liverpool, however, the task was essentially to rebuild. Eleven games into the 2025-26 season, Slot looks like a manager struggling to find his footing.
Several factors contributed to Liverpool’s heavy defeat to a top rival. After demanding victories over Aston Villa and Real Madrid, the team appeared fatigued. Mo Salah, meanwhile, continues to dominate one side of the attack, leaving the team unbalanced.
Liverpool also suffered from key moments going against them: Virgil van Dijk had a goal disallowed at 0-1, and Cody Gakpo missed a crucial opportunity at 0-2. Despite spending around £390 million on five outfield players over the summer, the new signings have yet to make a meaningful impact. At the Etihad, Slot selected only two of them—Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz—both of whom were largely ineffective. Other signings, including Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, and Aleksandar Isak, have either been sidelined or injured.
The core issue is clear: Liverpool lost influential players and have not yet successfully replaced them. In the context of a competitive Premier League, it is unsurprising that the team is struggling.
While the lack of impact from new signings is unlikely to be permanent—Liverpool have invested wisely, and their squad is relatively young—the immediate consequences are significant. Ekitike, who started the season strongly, has failed to maintain form, and Salah is not performing at his previous level. Liverpool’s inability to control possession and relieve pressure has been exposed, particularly against a team like Manchester City.
City manager Pep Guardiola noted Salah’s struggles, describing the Egyptian forward as a “dream to play against” this season. Salah’s reduced mobility and reluctance to track back have left gaps in the midfield, which City exploited.
In the short term, Liverpool’s goal should be to stabilize their league campaign between now and the Christmas period. Apart from the December 20 match at Tottenham, their fixture list is manageable, with the aim of securing a top-four position. While expectations of dominance are high, particularly given recent English football trends, defending a title remains a formidable challenge.
Liverpool possess a talented, young squad—Ekitike (23), Isak (26), Wirtz (22), Kerkez (22), and Bradley (22). While immediate results have been disappointing, these players are part of a long-term plan. The defending champions’ title hopes are not entirely over, but they face a significant gap behind leaders Manchester City. For now, the reasons for Liverpool’s struggles are clear: a team in transition, relying on new signings who have yet to find their rhythm.
