Liverpool suffered an 18th defeat of the season at the weekend. They were beaten at Old Trafford, which is never nice, but the resignation after Kobbie Mainoo's second-half strike was palpable.
Jurgen Klopp coined a term for his Liverpool side way back when. They were mentality monsters, fuelled by energy and tempo and ruthless intensity. That team is no longer here, and Arne Slot is even struggling to find the vestiges of last year's more controlled beat.
arne-slot-liverpool
This is regression, not adaptation. Liverpool cannot be expected to win the Premier League every year, but they must at least challenge, especially after a record-breaking summer of spending after lifting the title following such an impressive year.
At least Liverpool *should* qualify for the Champions League, but defeat against Chelsea at Anfield next weekend would put a spanner in the works there.
In any case, signings are needed, not just in attack but at the back too.
Liverpool preparing fresh talks with Premier League defender
Liverpool have Jeremy Jacquet alighting at Anfield this summer. The Rennes centre-half has already signed on a £60m deal, but he has stayed in France until the end of the 2025/26 campaign.
Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet
Giovanni Leoni is also looking to bounce back after his ACL injury sustained on his debut against Southampton. A cruel, cruel setback, and sadly symptomatic of Liverpool's plight this year.
However, the Reds could do with more, even though Ibrahima Konate is now leaning toward a contract extension.
According to reports in Spain, Liverpool are in for Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi, who will depart the Vitality on a free transfer this summer.
The Argentina international wants to stay in the Premier League, and though Bournemouth are ostensibly in the lead of this race, Liverpool are preparing fresh contacts for one of the most underrated centre-backs in the division.
That said, they will need to overcome Spurs in the race to secure his signature, who have reportedly already offered terms to the defender.
Why Marcos Senesi would be Liverpool's perfect signing
Tottenham might hold the lead in the race for Senesi, but Liverpool have pipped the Londoners to top targets in the past. Luis Diaz had been linked with a move to N17 before Liverpool came along, and before him, Sadio Mane.
According to ex-Tottenham transfer chief David Webb, Tottenham came close to signing the Senegalese legend before he joined Liverpool from Southampton in a £34m deal. Now, lightning could strike twice with Senesi, who has also made a name for himself on the south coast.
The 28-year-old is one of the most talented ball-playing centre-backs in the Premier League, though he maybe doesn't get the recognition that he deserves.
Bournemouth writer Ben Pawlowski has even gone as far as to say that Senesi is a "monster" of a defender, owing to his remarkable technical grasp and sure-footed defending.
He'd make the grade at Liverpool all right, not only stylish and efficient on the ball but crunching and confident in the challenge, averaging 5.5 duels per game.
He's not the youngest defender on the market, but Liverpool have up-and-coming talent coming through, and Senesi would provide leadership and experience alongside Virgil van Dijk and co.
And though this is not a footballer who offers stylistic similarities to Mane, he could enjoy the same kind of transformative impact, fixing a porous and ponderous backline.
Senesi-Bournemouth
Given that Senesi is available on a free transfer at the end of the season, this is surely an opportunity that is too good to pass up for Liverpool, especially when considering it would weaken a Premier League rival.
The Anfield side could actually do with a winger cut from the same cloth as Mane to fix their problems in attack, but equally, the defence is leaky and unsure of itself, and Senesi could prove the shrewd signing to turn the tide, swiping him from Spurs.
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Liverpool were beaten at Old Trafford in the Premier League.