Andoni Iraola
Andoni Iraola
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There comes a time in the summer transfer window when frustrated fans of almost every club feel obliged to turn to the meme on social media.
You all know which one: the cartoon image of a man with a stick prodding an inanimate object that has been replaced by the respective club badge with the message for it simply "do something".
It has become increasingly viewed among Liverpool fans the nearer the clock ticks towards the deadline day on September 1.
Not that the Anfield side have been AWOL regards recruitment this year, with centre-back Jeremy Jacquet's arrival having been agreed in January and both winger Victor Munoz and on-loan defender Ronald Araujo being signed without so much as a hint before it was clear the deals would be done.
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Even Jacquet's New Year capture was swift from first being publicly mooted to official completion. But such cloak and dagger activity has very much not been the case in Liverpool's attempts to conclude arguably their most difficult business this summer - determining and delivering the player who will replace club legend Mohamed Salah in the forward line.
Indeed, it is instructive that more than six weeks after it became clear Ivory Coast teenager Yan Diomande didn't fancy a move to Anfield, Liverpool still haven't signed a new winger.
Diomande was the one they wanted. And the manner in which they confidently approached RB Leipzig and said they were willing to pay £86million for the player indicates they had been given enough encouragement the 19-year-old was open to the move and his representatives believed it possible.
But after preferred destination Paris Saint-Germain also refused to play ball with Leipzig's valuation, the winger moved to Real Madrid instead.
Of course, Diomande isn't the only target on Liverpool's shortlist, as the protracted interest in PSG's Bradley Barcola is demonstrating. Again, Liverpool believe the player is overpriced, although crucially it is understood the France international is genuinely keen on a move to Anfield. Supporters will understandably remain sceptical on that score.
Every club has a bigger picture but not everything can be planned down to the latest detail. Some assumptions have to be made.
And having previously possessed a Midas touch the envy of the whole of Europe, Liverpool's hierarchy have now acquired the unwanted habit of seemingly reasonable calls backfiring spectacularly.
Look at last season. Liverpool might have expected Milos Kerkez to be able to hit the ground running given his Premier League experience at Bournemouth, but his adaptation was at times painful during the early stages.
They perhaps thought Alexander Isak's early issues were inevitable but the striker would come good in the second half of the season, only for him to suffer a broken leg before Christmas.
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Then, with Trent Alexander-Arnold gone, the arrival of Jeremie Frimpong to challenge Conor Bradley at right-back would have seemingly covered all the bases were it not for a serious injury for the latter and persistent form and fitness issues of the former.
The list goes on, and went a long way to contributing to Arne Slot being axed as head coach and replaced by Andoni Iraola.
And the Basque is having to now cope with the fallout, not only from the failed Diomande pursuit but also the exit of Ibrahima Konate.
Liverpool were for a long time working on the presumption Konate would sign a new contract, particularly after the centre-back declared in April the deal was effectively done.
But the longer confirmation was not forthcoming, the more it became clear an agreement would not be reached. That Konate subsequently rocked up at Real Madrid on a free transfer was not a good look for the France international.
Clubs need to be reactive as well as proactive in the transfer market, an approach Liverpool under Fenway Sports Group haven't always shown is their forte.
After Konate's departure, the signing of Araujo on loan is one such deal, and while there is an inherent risk in any temporary move - particularly given Liverpool's previous poor return from such business - it is a risk worth taking with far more potential positives than negatives.
But Konate going was not part of the wider vision, particularly with the Reds acutely aware Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are in the last 12 months of their contracts with it unlikely both will renew.
Transfers don't always go as intended and there is solace that some of Liverpool's most successful signings have been compromises.
But both Konate and Diomande have put the Reds on the backfoot and the clock is ticking on the deadline for them to fully regain the initiative. Liverpool need to do something.
Andoni Iraola leads Liverpool in his debut campaign at Anfield
Andoni Iraola leads Liverpool in his debut campaign at Anfield((Photo by Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images))