Following Marc Guehi’s transfer to Manchester City, Liverpool have taken a rather jaded approach to the January transfer window for a side who conceded their title defence in November and now face a fight for the Champions League places for next season.
This feature will explore the possible reasons behind the club’s dormant status in the transfer market.
A never-ending storm with no golden sky in sight
Liverpool are now 13 games unbeaten in all competitions, hardly worthy of a distress signal to available players in the transfer market, one would imagine.
Of those matches, however, only seven have resulted in wins, four of which came in the Premier League and the other three in the Champions League and FA Cup.
Their top-flight crown is beyond the horizon, as the holders are an astounding 14 points behind leaders Arsenal, and a top-eight finish in the Champions League hangs in the balance, heading into the final matchday.
Arne Slot has lost the unwavering faith that existed among the Kop this time last year as his side have displayed one too many abject performances and his project is now in serious doubt.
While the signs point to sheer chaos and a scramble for reinforcements, Liverpool’s position in the transfer market mirrors the mood inside Anfield, flat and stagnant.
Edwards and Hughes fail to address squad gaps in record transfer window
Balance. A key ingredient that Liverpool have lacked this season, which has ultimately led to their startling capitulation in such a short space of time.
Defence
The club’s failure to sign Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi prevented a record-breaking window from becoming one of perfection in the eyes of Liverpool fans.
The departure of academy graduate Jarell Quansah meant that the Reds were left with an injury prone Joe Gomez and 18-year old Giovanni Leoni, a brand new arrival from Parma.
Konate’s indifferent form, coupled with Virgil van Dijk inevitably falling victim to father time, destabilised a backline that was increasingly exposed as Florian Wirtz settled into Liverpool’s new-look midfield.
Attack
Further forward, the Reds have had to make do with Cody Gakpo on the left flank, following Luis Diaz’s transfer to Bayern Munich, who are two entirely different player profiles.
Mohamed Salah has had an underwhelming but eventful first half of the season, and while his outburst in December has been brushed under the carpet, Jeremie Frimpong is certainly not a viable option to replace his phenomenal output.
Moreover, the inevitable dilemma of having two star strikers in the squad has been shelved for now, as the British record transfer, Alexander Isak, has succumbed to his worrying injury record.
As the summer signings are still learning to play alongside each other, the question must be asked – were these players signed solely for their talent, or their potential as a cohesive unit?
Turbulent six months halt proceedings for Slot’s high-flying Reds
All good things must come to an end
While the most recent patriarch of Liverpool Football Club, Jurgen Klopp, departed the club 18 months ago, last summer consisted of a large-scale changing of the old guard.
Renowned for organising his press to lead from the front, Klopp’s key facilitators in Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz bid farewell to Anfield, while academy graduates Caoimhin Kelleher, Jarell Quansah, and Harvey Elliott sought a new challenge.
What stung the Kop the most, however, was the controversial exit of the West Derby-born Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The fulcrum of all Liverpool attacks, this season has revealed how much they relied on the right back going forward, the inch perfect out ball that was taken for granted.
A so-called realist would denote that Arne Slot’s use of his fullbacks in a more conventional manner last season was a begrudging acceptance of Alexander-Arnold’s decision long before Liverpool’s title-winning campaign began.
Fading longevity clashes with raw potential
Several summer signings have been scapegoated for the Reds’ poor performances over the past few months, but they were certainly not helped by the squad veterans.
Long-serving members such as Salah and van Dijk have failed to reach their imperious levels of previous seasons, much to the dismay of Slot’s class of 2025/26.
Left back Milos Kerkez, in particular, has faced media backlash but, after an erratic start, is finding his feet, only to be curtailed by the likes of Gakpo, who refuses to use the byline.
A clear clash of footballing identity and play styles is something Slot will have to resolve if his Liverpool side are to create a dynasty that FSG have invested so much into.
Invisible scars impossible to dismiss
The tragic passing of Diogo Jota rocked the footballing world to its core.
The Portuguese forward was on his way back to the AXA Training Centre to report for pre-season training, fresh from the Nations League triumph over Spain in the final.
In the blink of an eye, the Liverpool squad lost a brother and were expected to soldier on as the games piled up thick and fast.
To disregard the psychological impact that Jota’s passing had on the side would be inconsiderate, but the squad also lost a versatile forward who always managed to be in the right place at the right time.
Patience over panic buys – silverware within reach as squad shifts gears
With Liverpool effectively out of the Premier League title race and having been dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Crystal Palace, the focus shifts to the two remaining competitions.
Following a brilliant 3-0 victory over Marseille at the Velodrome, Slot’s side sit fourth in the Champions League table, knowing a win over Qarabag at Anfield will secure them a place in the round of 16.
Liverpool’s style of football seems much more suited to the Champions League format this season, and their recent history in the competition means they can never be ruled out of contention.
After a quiet start to life in red, Florian Wirtz is starting to show the Kop why the club shelled out the big bucks, having registered 6 goal contributions in 8 games.
While Dominik Szoboszlai and Hugo Ekitike have been standout performers this season, fullbacks Frimpong and Kerkez are also thriving as the side finally begins to take shape.
While the riches of the transfer market are difficult to resist, Liverpool refusing to indulge may just help them in the long run, with silverware still on the line and a squad beginning to click.