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Former Manchester United assistant coach Rene Meulensteen has criticized Liverpool’s approach to the summer transfer market, claiming Sir Alex Ferguson would have made so many alterations in one window.
Liverpool added eight senior players in the summer, the highest number of signings ever made by a reigning Premier League champion. However, those incomings have not had the desired effect, with the Reds struggling in the early months of the season.
After four consecutive defeats in all competitions, pressure is mounting on Arne Slot. Many have Arsenal as favorites to claim the title, with Liverpool now trailing the Gunners by four points.
Meulensteen can relate to the pressure of retaining the title, which Roy Keane referenced over the weekend.
Under Ferguson’s watch, United finished first in 13 of the first 21 Premier League seasons, and his former assistant believes the Red Devils would never have made so many signings in one summer.
“Sir Alex wouldn't have done what Liverpool did in the summer. He would sign two, maximum three players to go straight into the XI,” the Dutchman told CasinoHawks. “You always work with a football team from a framework.
“You always look at the right, to the middle, to the spine of the team; your goalkeeper, your center-backs, your midfield players, your strikers.
“Then obviously, I think around it, those are more your, I wouldn't say utility players, but they are more the impact players in terms of your game, the ones that have pace, the ones that have an individual action, the ones that have a great cross.
“But the spine needs to be good. When you have to start making changes in the spine, you know, those are the hardest ones because you need to get them spot on.”
Despite Meulensteen’s comments, the spine of Liverpool’s team on Sunday contained Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai, all of whom were part of the Reds’ title-winning side.
If Alisson had been fit, he would have started, while Alexander Isak also played through the middle against United.
The ex-Newcastle man fluffed a chance in the first half and has not made an immediate impact since his record-breaking arrival on deadline day.
There have been calls for Hugo Ekitike to start in his place, given the Frenchman has already netted five goals in his short time as a Liverpool player.
As for other changes to the team's spine, one looks set to be enforced against Eintracht Frankfurt. Gravenberch sustained an ankle injury against United that prevented him from taking part in training on Tuesday.
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