Pundit Jamie Carragher has blasted Liverpool’s recruitment policy following their poor start to the season.
The Reds invested heavily in their squad summer, spending a record £449 million on new signings, in a bid to mount a title defence, but results have yet to follow.
After the 3-0 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday, Liverpool are now eight points behind table-toppers Arsenal, leaving their title defence aspiration in tatters.
Carragher has suggested the club’s recruitment decisions have played a significant role in their poor start to the campaign.
He told The Overlap: “I always look at the players rather than the manager. I think the people buying the players and the manager have tried to recreate a team from last season that won the league.
“In (Arne) Slot’s view, he wanted it to be more attractive — with more goals and more entertainment.
“He (Slot) is always speaking about Paris Saint-Germain, he loves Pep (Guardiola), and he is trying to move that team towards more goals. However, the league has shifted away from that direction.
“The league has gone powerful — set-pieces, long throws — almost like the 2000s. And Liverpool have been left behind; they’ve almost got it wrong in terms of where the game is going. I think that’s a big problem for them.”
Carragher’s remarks on Liverpool’s transfers seem like hindsight criticism
Not many would have predicted Liverpool’s struggles, given the calibre of players they signed.
Liverpool had to evolve to avoid being exposed by other Premier League teams, forcing them to spend heavily on players such as Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz.
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While most of the summer arrivals have struggled, the form of established players is more worrisome, particularly Mohamed Salah and Ibrahima Konate.
In fact, only midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai and goalkeeper Alisson Becker have been consistent among the older Liverpool players.
Liverpool’s fortunes could change if the established stars regain form, potentially helping the new signings flourish as well.