Liverpool Fails to Maximize IDR 8.6 Trillion Purchases, Their Season is Threatened with Ruin

Gilabola.com – Liverpool is facing a messy season after failing to maximize five new summer signings worth a total of IDR 8.6 trillion.

Under the guidance of Arne Slot, the defending Premier League champions looked to have lost their way, especially after the departure of three main strikers last season. This condition is exacerbated by Mohamed Salah’s declining performance and the lack of contribution from new players such as Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz.

This season seems to show how deep the hole Liverpool has to fill after the previous era of glory. They were champions last season, but immediately lost most of their attack line, including Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez who were sold, and Diogo Jota who died tragically.

With the loss of these three players, Liverpool is no longer in a position to simply strengthen the team, but must rebuild from scratch.

Arne Slot seemed to have difficulty rearranging the game system, even after 11 matches had passed. He is described as someone who came to a building project that he did not personally design.

The latest defeat to Manchester City made the matter clear. After two emotional wins over Aston Villa and Real Madrid, Liverpool appeared weak and out of steam at the Etihad. The team seems to be running out of ideas, while Salah is no longer considered to be a threat like in previous years.

Virgil van Dijk had a goal disallowed when the score was still 0-1, while Cody Gakpo failed to take advantage of a golden opportunity in the second half. Several important moments worsened the final result which was already difficult for them to avoid.

New Players Have No Effect

Liverpool’s five new players have so far not made a significant impact. Ekitike and Wirtz appeared without much impact, while Milos Kerkez lost his place to Andrew Robertson. The other two, Jeremie Frimpong and Aleksandar Isak, are injured and have not yet made a contribution.

This condition shows the root of Liverpool’s problems. They lose the quality of old players without being able to replace them equally. In a league as competitive as the Premier League, it is almost impossible for something like that to not have a bad impact.

However, observers assess that this problem is still temporary. Young players like Wirtz and Ekitike still have time to develop. Arne Slot is also believed to be able to improve team integration if given enough time and stability.

One big focus is on Mohamed Salah. Pep Guardiola even admitted that for years Salah had always been a nightmare for his team. However, this time, the City coach saw the Egyptian player decline significantly.

Salah is said to be slower than last season, often loses the ball and rarely helps in defense. His lack of defense forced Liverpool’s midfield to shift to close the gap, which actually opened up space in other sectors. As a result, opponents like City easily exploit empty areas and create opportunities.

Ekitike was an exception at the start of the season, but the French striker is now also having difficulty maintaining consistency. Liverpool’s inability to withstand the opponent’s pressure and keep the ball in the front area worsens the results of big matches like this.

Short Term Focus and Next Challenges

In the near future, Liverpool must ensure their season does not get worse. After the international break, they will face a relatively light schedule before meeting Arsenal in January. Slot’s realistic target is to ensure the team stays in the top four until the end of the year.

Even so, some fans are starting to question whether the chance of retaining the title still exists. Mathematically, Liverpool is only four points away from Manchester City, who is currently in second place. However, their performance so far has made many people pessimistic.

Liverpool actually still has a young squad with great potential. The average age of their main players is in the range of 22 to 26 years. If integration can be improved quickly, the club’s future remains promising. But for now, the failure to combine new talent with the old structure is dooming their season.