Liverpool’s summer transfer window decisions have been brought into question after their nightmare start to the season.
The Reds spent well over £400 million on players during the window, with some, such as Hugo Ekitike, showing their clear talent and promise, while others, like Milos Kerkez, have so far struggled to find their feet.
Those signings made by Liverpool were supposed to rejuvenate and maintain the quality of the squad after either selling or loaning seven key players who made regular appearances in the first team.
But the return on investment has not happened yet with many of the stars, which has affected the performances of the team both defensively and offensively.
Two names have led this side to suffer more than some of the other decisions, with Luis Diaz and Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving the club over the summer.
Martin Keown says Luis Diaz and Trent Alexander-Arnold are huge misses for Liverpool
They were both very key in their positions and provided something different to the standard that fans are seeing currently on the pitch.
Martin Keown hit the nail on the head with his recent comments about their departures when speaking to talkSPORT ahead of the game against Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup.
The former Arsenal player said that both men were instrumental in the success Arne Slot had last year in the Premier League, with Diaz being described as having his best season in a Liverpool shirt.
He said: “But everything in their world last year was fantastic, wasn’t it? Everything went well for them they kept winning games, it’s great, and you look around and you learn about people when you’re not winning, and that’s probably what they’re.
“It’s a new group, I’m looking at it, I’m thinking I’m saying why was Diaz allowed to leave? Diaz had his best season in a Liverpool shirt last year. He’s gone, okay, maybe the money man got it wrong and didn’t sign him up early enough, but he’s allowed to leave.
“Alexander-Arnold, for me, was one that you had to keep; he’s the key. You might look at Salah now and say, has he run his race? But maybe he’s the person who saves you for the rest of the season.
“The manager’s got to try and find all these ingredients. I’m not quite seeing this. There are not many happy stories of these new signings at the moment. Nobody, I can tell you, is happy.”
Martin Keown is correct in his assessment of Liverpool
This is the reality of this season so far; it is a team that is made up of new pieces of a jigsaw, which do not quite fit right just yet, while losing some of the pieces that made this team a success.
The Diaz transfer was one which is frustrating, but it was clear that the Colombian wanted to leave; he made it abundantly clear, which showed that he wanted more at the club for whatever reason.
Similarly with Trent, the Scouser was adamant about leaving and wanting a new challenge elsewhere.
However, it does not make up for the fact that there should have been increased efforts in some capacity to keep either.
The only part where Keown’s opinion falls is the fact that the defensive issues would persist, and if not worse with Alexander-Arnold, because he played so high up the pitch.
A major rethink of this Liverpool side is necessary, though, given the form they have been in, and Slot needs to work everything out quickly to subdue fan displeasure.
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