Why Liverpool are lost thanks to a £450m mess of their own making

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It is uncharted territory: for him personally, and for Liverpool in the decade since Klopp’s appointment.Slot’s honeymoon period included a demolition of Manchester United. Slot has searched for solidity by reverting to last season’s trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, yet Liverpool have lost three times with them together in midfield.

As Slot accepted, they created more chances after his substitutions, even if they abandoned all concept of balance to go for all-out attack.Arne Slot opted to start Alexander Isak (left) over the in-form Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)In the broader picture, Liverpool’s three most threatening attackers this season have been Ekitike, Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa; not, as may have been imagined, Salah, Isak and Wirtz. “It is almost impossible to win a big game of football with a negative set-piece balance,” said Slot; it is a theory he has long had.

But there is the question if Liverpool’s overhaul has left them with too small a team, Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate apart. That reflected the attacking options Slot now has but also the 2025-26 Liverpool: a side that has lost its stability and, after the improbable run of late deciders, its winning habit.