Liverpool disbanded?

When the heroes left, the new contracts had not yet matured, and Arne Slot stood alone in the middle of the unfinished construction site called Liverpool.

Undefined project

The truth that few want to tell: Liverpool have to go back a long way before they can go forward. Last season's title seemed to usher in a new era, but in reality it was the final bell.

In just a few months, they lost almost their entire attack. Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez left, Diogo Jota met with tragedy. Those losses left a void that Arne Slot has yet to fill.

Instead of adding, Liverpool had to rebuild. And after 11 rounds, the team looked like an unformed structure, and coach Arne Slot like a person holding a blueprint lost in a concrete field. The 0-3 loss to Manchester City in round 11 of the Premier League on the evening of November 9 only exposed the truth: this team has hit rock bottom both physically and mentally.

Liverpool arrived at the Etihad on the back of exhausting games against Aston Villa and Real Madrid. They came out exhausted, mentally drained. That shouldn’t happen to a champion team, but Slot couldn’t help it. Salah, the biggest star, was now the biggest problem. He was still scoring goals, but he had lost pace, lost inspiration, and tilted the system in one direction.

“For the last ten years, Salah has been my nightmare,” Pep Guardiola said after the match. “Now, he is every opponent’s dream.” The words were cold but accurate. Salah no longer made a difference. He did not control the ball well, did not press, and did not support Conor Bradley behind. Liverpool’s right flank was therefore always exposed, dragging down the entire midfield.

Salah is old now.

Slot looked at his players with a blank look. He knew the problem was more than just tactics. Liverpool was broken between two generations. Those who had fought for the title were gone. The new ones were not strong enough to take over.

Liverpool spent around £390 million on five new signings in the summer: Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and Aleksandar Isak. An impressive sum, but not effective. At the Etihad, only Ekitike and Wirtz started. Both were lackluster. Kerkez lost his place to Robertson, and Frimpong and Isak were injured.

Liverpool did not lack money, they lacked time. They lost players who understood the old philosophy, without having time to train those who understood the new philosophy. When Slot walked into the dressing room at the beginning of the season, he did not see a championship team. He saw a group of young players with potential, but lacking the courage to withstand the storms of the Premier League.

The small moments also reflected the situation. Van Dijk's cancelled goal at 0-1, Gakpo's missed header at 0-2, all were symbols of a team that was no longer sharp. When chances came, they were not sharp enough to take them. When counter-attacked, they were not steady enough to stand.

Strange image of Liverpool

A year ago, Liverpool were a model of collective strength. Now they are a reflection of fatigue. Salah is heavy, Van Dijk is getting older, Robertson is still running but no longer breaking through. Wirtz is trying to make a difference but is lost in an unformed system. Ekitike started with excitement, but is fading like a flame without oxygen.

Coach Slot does not shy away from reality. He understands that “Liverpool are in between two phases”. But there is a gulf between theory and reality. In an era when fans demand instant results, any rebuilding process can become an accusation.

Liverpool collapsed before Man City.

The upcoming fixtures offer some hope. Apart from the trip to Tottenham on 20 December, the rest of January is relatively easy. If Liverpool can maintain their top four position before the Arsenal game, there will be no disaster. But if not, winter will be colder than ever at Anfield.

The Premier League is not the Bundesliga. In England, defending the title is almost impossible. Only truly complete teams like Guardiola's Man City can maintain it. Liverpool are no longer at that level.

Slot’s squad has a future: Ekitike is 23, Isak is 26, Wirtz is 22, the same age as Kerkez and Bradley. But the present is uncertain. These contracts were not bought for “now,” but at least people expect more than they are showing.

The gap with Man City is now 4 points. Not too far, but the way they play is completely different. Man City operates like a familiar machine. Liverpool is struggling like a newly assembled car, missing half the engine.

The final question is: is Liverpool’s title race over? Maybe not, but almost certainly. Because to defend their throne, they need a stronger soul, a clearer direction, and the old Salah, something Arne Slot has yet to find.

Liverpool were at the top because they had desire, togetherness and belief. Now they are having to learn how to build it all from scratch. In the rain at the Etihad, people saw not just a defeat, but the image of a champion going through a painful rebirth, and not knowing when it will find the light again.

Source: https://znews.vn/liverpool-tan-ra-post1601490.html