Liverpool need to start again, again.
It may seem somewhat churlish to suggest a club who spent £350m on strikers alone last summer needs an attacking overhaul 12 months later, but the champions have to hold their hands up and admit they got it wrong and go again.
On the face of it, it appeared Liverpool had enjoyed an all-timer of a summer transfer window.
Florian Wirtz was coveted by the continent’s elite. Hugo Ekitike very nearly joined Manchester United. Civil war almost broke out at Newcastle United over Alexander Isak’s departure.
But with the benefit of that oh-so-useful analytic tool – hindsight – the malady that has instead played out is not entirely unsurprising.
Hugo Ekitike has largely lived up to expectations at Anfield this season (Photo: Getty)With an almighty price tag on his shoulders, playing in a league more physical than it has ever been, Wirtz was always going to take time to adapt.
Ekitike has defied the odds and hit the ground running, but Isak’s injury record always made him an almighty risk.
His goal record is an impressive one, but his arrival is the one where Liverpool crossed the line in being overly indulgent – especially at that price.
The strike revolution would have worked had Salah carried on his flawless ageing process and continued to be Liverpool’s talisman into a ninth season.
In the most simplistic terms, Salah carried Liverpool last term.
Had Manchester City not endured an incongruous off-season and Arsenal’s penchant for the bridesmaid role rolled on, a second Premier League crown would not have been as easy to come by.
Even for the ultimate athlete with more abs than ribs, a drop-off was inevitable.
In a rotating strikeforce that was put in place to alleviate the burden on him, Salah has simply disappeared into obscurity.
While he may have ended his longest Premier League drought at Wolverhampton Wanderers, the rest of his display should signify the final death knell to his Reds career.
The craft has gone, his ability to attest duels now non-existent.
The most worrying lost facet is what separated him from his peers, the drive to keep coming week after week with more fire than before has irretrievably vanished.
There is confidence from Saudi Arabia – should conflict in that part of the world settle down – that a deal can be struck in the summer.
When looking for Salah’s replacement and an upgrade on Cody Gakpo, who supporters are starting to lose their patience with, Liverpool could take a leaf out of Manchester United’s book.
They too conducted a strike overhaul last summer, but with a difference.
While Benjamin Sesko was a risky signing from the Bundesliga, they flanked the big-money Slovenian with two, proven Premier League goalscorers in Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.
It is what United used to do best in their halcyon days under Sir Alex Ferguson.
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Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, Teddy Sheringham, Louis Saha – all snared from lower ranking rivals, when at the peak of their powers.
Isak had the Premier League pedigree, but his injury record would always come back to bite them at some point.
Ekitike is here to stay, as is Wirtz. But if Liverpool are to delve back into the forward market, at least one option needs some Premier League savoir faire.
Antoine Semenyo would have been perfect, but the Liverpool hierarchy didn’t push enough.
Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise would be an expensive option, but one worth splurging on. Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers has a myriad of attributes to make a real difference, too.
Then they can look to Europe for younger, unproven options. Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola is an achievable get, while RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande remains a top target.
The other imperative position to address is midfield.
Alexis Mac Allister’s decline has been stark. A full season of offering nothing in attack and defence, when he is supposed to be approaching his peak years, is an almighty burden to overcome.
Dominik Szoboszlai has arguably been the club’s player of the season, but he needs a calming influence alongside him.
Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson would be perfect, but he appears destined to go where all Liverpool targets end up – City. Palace’s Adam Wharton is a fine alternative.
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Full-back remains a concern, but Milos Kerkez and fit-again Jeremie Frimpong are likely to improve.
Centre-back issues persist – Virgil van Dijk isn’t getting any younger – but Ibrahima Konate’s form has recovered and Giovanni Leoni will be back next term, giving them better strength.
Two wide forwards and a central midfielder, however, should be non-negotiables.
As should an emotional farewell for Salah, who if he stays into a 10th season, could do some serious harm to his legacy.
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