No panic - but is this Liverpool's transitional season coming a year late?

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The Premier League champions are not in a state of panic as they hold the top spot in the standings; however, the signs of vulnerability that have lingered since the start of their season were evident again as they fell 1-0 to Galatasaray in the Champions League.

Following a smooth transition after taking over from Jurgen Klopp and a title win in his inaugural season, head coach Arne Slot is now facing significant challenges.

Based on the current situation, after investing nearly £450 million over the summer, this season might turn out to be a transitional phase for Slot rather than a seamless takeover from Klopp without major signings that marked his arrival from Feyenoord.

Alexander Isak, who came on as a substitute in Turkey, remains far from his optimal match fitness due to his prolonged and contentious British record £125 million transfer from Newcastle United.

Meanwhile, Florian Wirtz, who moved from Bayer Leverkusen for £116 million, appears somewhat overwhelmed and lightweight as he adapts to life at Liverpool's pace.

This wasn’t an ideal evening for Slot either.

The Dutch coach’s once-reliable decision-making faltered in Istanbul as leaving Mohamed Salah on the bench proved to be a costly mistake. When Salah was brought on shortly after the hour mark, Galatasaray had already seized the lead and the momentum, while Liverpool found it difficult to generate opportunities.

The last occasion Salah began a Champions League match on the substitutes’ bench was against Rangers in October 2022. It’s likely that Slot won’t make that choice again in a hurry.

Liverpool, as they were during their defeat at Crystal Palace and throughout the season, were again exposed by a Galatasaray team that had evidently studied them well under coach Okan Buruk.

The warning signs surfaced early on when Baris Alper Yilmaz executed what has become a frustratingly common scenario for Slot. The forward advanced towards goal with no challenges, only for keeper Alisson to come to Liverpool's rescue once again.

Slot utilized new right-back Jeremie Frimpong as a right-sided attacker, which didn’t exactly inspire confidence in his defensive skills, while established midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai was shifted to the backline.

It was Szoboszlai who was responsible for the crucial penalty awarded in the 16th minute, having been deemed to have fouled Yilmaz, with Victor Osimhen successfully converting amidst chaotic scenes.

As former Scotland winger Pat Nevin pointed out on BBC Radio 5 Live: "It feels so un-Liverpool."

Following their defeat at Selhurst Park, the journey to Istanbul might have been the last thing Liverpool needed, stepping into a fervent and hostile atmosphere that sets the stage for dramatic sporting moments.

Galatasaray fans congregated by the thousands in nearby bars and cafes hours before kick-off at this stunning stadium, which is elegantly situated on a hill, providing a view over Istanbul.

The overwhelming noise began well before the match commenced, and once the game started, every touch by a Liverpool player was met with deafening, piercing whistles.

To intensify Liverpool's woes on this unfortunate evening in Turkey, the exceptional goalkeeper Alisson departed due to injury in the 56th minute following another stop against Osimhen, while the in-form forward Hugo Ekitike also exited the match shortly thereafter.

Is Wirtz throwing Liverpool off balance?

A significant worry for Liverpool this season has been the limited influence of Wirtz.

This is a player undoubtedly full of talent and credentials, who drew notable interest from Manchester City prior to opting for Liverpool.

He was celebrated as the Bundesliga's standout player after honing his skills under Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen.

Wirtz is occupying a deeper position behind Liverpool's forward—Ekitike in Istanbul—but aside from one attempt in the first half that led to a save by Galatasaray's goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir, he remained largely uninvolved. This leaves him still in pursuit of his first goal for Liverpool.

Even top-tier players often require time to adjust, allowing Wirtz to familiarize himself with his teammates and vice versa, but Liverpool will be hoping for a burst of creativity from their £116m acquisition sooner rather than later.

"You're left pondering 'what is the strategy? What is the strategy for a significant change?" commented Nevin regarding Wirtz's position.

"Because there wasn’t much that needed changing, as things were quite good before."

We circle back to the discussion around Slot's transition, moving from a Liverpool side that was nearly unchanged since his arrival to one that won the Premier League comfortably, to a squad now aiming to incorporate several new players.

The addition of Wirtz seems to have led to Liverpool being more vulnerable, although this cannot solely be blamed on the German. They appear less solid than in the previous season and the overall team structure seems to have been impacted.

"I don't understand how Wirtz fits into the team,” stated former England captain Wayne Rooney on The Wayne Rooney Show. “I believe it was a substantial expenditure. I think Wirtz actually disturbs the equilibrium of Liverpool and their style of play.

"He's an excellent player, and I’m certain he will improve - but his start has been slow, and that is undeniable."

Wirtz's present difficulties cannot be attributed to a lack of effort. He made more attempts at dribbling and shooting on goal than any other Liverpool player during their match in Istanbul. He will be hoping that his dedication will soon pay off.

The data from Liverpool also supports the idea that they are currently more vulnerable, as they required late goals to secure results against teams like Bournemouth, Newcastle, Arsenal, Burnley, Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, and Southampton in the Carabao Cup. Additionally, they let slip two-goal advantages against Bournemouth, Newcastle, and Atletico.

Moreover, a comparison between the start of this season and last shows that they have managed just two clean sheets in ten matches this time, while they had six clean sheets in their opening ten games last season.

"At the moment they're not quite there," remarked former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge on Amazon Prime. "Looking at their current performance, they do not resemble the team from last year. The chemistry is not quite what it should be at this time, but there is ample opportunity for them to correct it. It’s not a cause for alarm."

Slot, understandably, offered a balanced viewpoint as he stated, "We are not too far from the level we displayed last season. Sometimes the schedule can create challenges; playing Galatasaray is not an easy task. Next, we face Chelsea away, which will be another tough match.

"The margins are tight, just as they were last season. For the second consecutive time, we find ourselves on the unfavorable side.

"I noticed many positives in the first half, but the second half was considerably less effective. It felt like there was limited playing time, as their striker fell to the ground repeatedly. This made it challenging to gain any rhythm in the game."

Despite this, the tranquility and control that characterized Liverpool's championship success seem to have dissipated, a feeling that was again absent in the intense atmosphere of Istanbul.