After hundreds of millions spent on players, what was Liverpool's plan?

"What was it supposed to look like? Amid all the talk around Liverpool and their disappointing form at the start of this season, that is perhaps the hardest question of all to answer. What were they trying to do? If it had worked, how would this team have played? The champions spent 424m (about $550m) on new signings in the summer, but if all had gone well, they would have spent an additional 40m ($53m) to land Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi."

"An early City penalty was a direct result of Konate getting in Conor Bradley's way as Jeremy Doku cut in from the left. But Konate's partnership with Virgil van Dijk is proven. In past seasons, it has been far better than this. While neither central defender is playing well, Liverpool's baffling openness this season has been less about individual form than structure and that's despite, in recent weeks, returning to last season's midfield."

"Against Aston Villa last weekend, Slot selected an XI consisting of 10 players who were at the club last season, plus Hugo Ekitike. On Tuesday, against Real Madrid, there was one further change with Florian Wirtz replacing Cody Gakpo. Liverpool won both of those games, but neither Villa nor Madrid tested their obvious vulnerability to direct balls played behind the full-backs."

Liverpool spent £424m on summer signings and nearly added Marc Guehi to bolster centre-back options, which would have allowed rest for Ibrahima Konate. Konate's poor form contributed to a City penalty and his partnership with Virgil van Dijk, usually reliable, has underperformed. The team's openness stems more from structural issues than individual mistakes, despite reverting recently to last season's midfield. Arne Slot has trialed mostly existing players with few new starters, winning against Aston Villa and Real Madrid, but those opponents did not expose vulnerabilities to direct balls behind full-backs. The club appears to be scaling back rapid changes after an aggressive rebuild.

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