Man City can repeat Liverpool's £130m transfer revolution to improve problem position

If there is a consolation for Manchester City, it is that Liverpool's midfield was also a weakness not so long ago. Two years ago, their midfield was ageing, declining physically, and unable to dominate opponents. The transformation has been astounding.

It's worth rewinding to that 2022/23 season when City won the treble, and Liverpool paid the price for not refreshing their squad. City finished 22 points ahead of Jurgen Klopp's side, who ended up fifth and were demolished 4-1 at the Etihad.

That game was in April 2023, just 20 months ago, but in midfield that day were Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Harvey Elliott. James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain came off the bench, while Arthur was an unused sub. Naby Keita, Thiago and Curtis Jones were all absent.

Just consider the pace of that change. Liverpool left their rebuild too late, but when it came, it was ruthless. Of those nine midfield options that season, only two remain at the club. Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai were all signed in the summer of 2023 for an outlay of around £130million.

ALSO READ: Pep Guardiola reaction to Liverpool fans could spell the end of some City careers

ALSO READ: What Man City players did after Liverpool goal suggests problems run deeper

At Anfield on Sunday, they dominated City's midfield physically and technically. In many ways, it was sad to watch. Pep Guardiola used to pride himself on the control his teams exerted centrally, and while he has eased away from that a little in the Premier League, rarely can a midfield he has put out have looked so lacklustre.

After the 2-0 defeat, he praised Manuel Akanji, Bernardo Silva and Rico Lewis for playing in unfamiliar central midfield roles against such an