LONDON: Former Liverpool sensation Robbie Fowler believes the Reds’ summer transfer window spending strategy is the main reason for their sudden decline in form this season.
Liverpool, the defending Premier League champions, were beaten 3-0 by Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium thanks to goals from Erling Haaland, Nico Gonzalez and Jeremy Doku, recording their sixth defeat in their last seven league matches.
Last summer, Liverpool spent big – around 446 million pounds including twice breaking the British transfer record when signing midfielder Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for 116 million pounds and striker Alexander Isak from Newcastle for 125 million pounds.
However, their performance has declined compared to last season. Fowler, who scored 183 goals throughout his career with Liverpool, said the defeat proved that Arne Slot’s squad had now dropped out of the championship race.
“Before the game, I was asked if Liverpool had come out of the slump. I said don’t get too excited.
“They won against Aston Villa, but they only played well for 45 minutes. For me, they’re out of the title race,” Fowler said on The Good, The Bad & The Football programme with Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt.
Scholes also admitted that he previously still believed Liverpool could win the league, but changed his mind after seeing how they lost at the Etihad.
Fowler then slammed the club’s transfer approach which he said was not in line with the Slot system.
“(Jeremie) Frimpong is the most obvious example. He was bought to replace (Trent) Alexander-Arnold, but he’s actually a defensive winger, not a traditional right-back.
“So is (Milos) Kerkez. He was a big favourite last season, but playing for Liverpool is not the same as playing at Bournemouth or Brentford – the pressure is a lot different,” said Scholes.
Frimpong and Kerkez joined Liverpool for 29.5 million pounds and 40 million pounds respectively.
Also bought were Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike for 85 million pounds and young defender Giovanni Leoni from Parma for 30 million pounds.
Liverpool are currently eighth in the league, eight points behind leaders Arsenal and four points behind second-placed Manchester City.
Nicky Butt described City’s victory as a “revelation” that they are back to their best, while Scholes added: “Arsenal may be four points ahead, but with the experience City have compared to Arsenal, I still see City as the favourites to win.”