Liverpool’s problems have countiued to mount with an acute focus on their summer spending and big money signings flopping misreably so far

Liverpool’s slump stems from a recruitment strategy that overloaded the attack while leaving clear structural gaps in defensive midfield and centre-back, then a tactical bedding-in period that was ruthlessly exposed in the 3-0 defeat at Manchester City, making a genuine title push unlikely without course correction.

What’s broken?

The Premier League champions have lost five of their last six Premier League games and sit eight points off leaders Arsenal, with the heavy defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad underlining a dip from cohesion to fragility.

Analysts have highlighted a team that no longer functions as a unit, with roles unclear in and out of possession and too many attackers wanting the ball to feet. A detailed breakdown of the Manchester City game showed Liverpool were outmatched in midfield control and transition management, compounding the results trend rather than arresting it.

Summer spending

Liverpool spent a record-shattering sum, headlined by Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, and Milos Kerkez, yet the return has been uneven and the side is less balanced than before.

The scale of the outlay has intensified scrutiny as performances slipped, with suggestions that integrating £400 million-plus of talent has been mishandled tactically. Even club and outlet lists of ins and outs underline how radically the squad was reshaped, without obvious solutions to long-standing structural issues.

Did euphoria blind key needs?

Liverpool emerged from a Premier League title win into a summer of marquee purchases. However, a ball-winning No. 6 and a senior centre-back were the priorities that should have led the plan.

The deadline-day failure to land Marc Guehi and the season-long loss of Giovanni Leoni due to an ACL rupture left depth paper-thin behind Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez. Reports and briefings acknowledged a centre-back shortage even before injuries, an imbalance that has since defined selection compromises.

Are the big buys flops?

It is too early for verdicts, but early outputs are underwhelming for the price tags: Florian Wirtz has yet to record a Premier League goal contribution, though Julian Nagelsmann insists the issue is finishing around him and adaptation time. Alexander Isak’s start has been curtailed by fitness and limited minutes, with one EFL Cup goal as he builds towards full speed.

Jeremie Frimpong has twice been sidelined by hamstring issues, slowing integration into the right flank rotation. Hugo Ekitike has provided bright spells and important goals amid inconsistency and a costly cup red card that paused his momentum. Milos Kerkez has logged minutes and scored once, but the left side still looks in flux between him and Andy Robertson.

The performance against Manchester City showed the gap

At the Etihad, Pep Guardiola’s side flooded central zones, isolated Liverpool’s full-back defensively, and dominated aerially and territorially, with Jeremy Doku tormenting Conor Bradley and Erling Haaland overpowering Ibrahima Konate for the opener.

Tactical reviews agreed Manchester City were superior in structure and tempo, with Liverpool’s press and rest-defense repeatedly unpicked. The 3-0 scoreline echoed broader coverage that framed the contest as champions outclassed in a pivotal test of level.

Title chances?

Barring a dramatic turnaround, a Premier League title defence already resembles damage limitation rather than contention, given form, injuries, and an eight-point gap before November’s break.

Even sympathetic assessments argue the squad build is skewed and requires profile corrections before performance can stabilise. With centre-back plans delayed and the calendar congested, the most realistic hope is re-entry to the race after targeted January surgery and a reset in roles.

Conclusion

Liverpool’s problems are fixable, but only if the club aligns tactics and recruitment with the realities of this group rather than the idea of it. A specialist ball-winner is non-negotiable to shield the back four and simplify the press, which would stop the midfield from being stretched and protect the full-backs from repeated isolation.

Centre-back depth must be addressed after the Marc Guehi collapse and Giovanni Leoni’s ACL rupture, or the team will keep bending in transition and set-pieces. Slot should trim the “all-creators” blend in the final third, define lane responsibilities, and prioritise direct runners around Mohamed Salah to restore vertical threat.

Patience with Florian Wirtz and a managed runway for Alexander Isak remain smart bets, while Hugo Ekitike’s energy can be harnessed within tighter decision-making. As injuries clear, Frimpong among them, roles can settle and automatisms return, lifting baseline performance.

The Premier League title this season is a reach without swift course corrections, but the gap is tactical more than existential. Get the profiles right, shrink the pitch, and the reigning champions can look like themselves again, even if the trophy must wait a year.