Michael Edwards may have set in a motion a Liverpool trend that has left manager Jürgen Klopp facing unprecedented upheaval on and off the pitch at Anfield.

Liverpool, once a symbol of stability, has been in transition for the better part of two years.

One of the primary figures in the club’s success, sports director Michael Edwards, opted to depart the organization at the conclusion of his contract in November 2021, which was when everything began. Julian Ward, his previous assistant and the person who was most likely seen as a long-term successor, submitted a surprise resignation twelve months later.

Head of research Ian Graham had indicated he also intended to leave during that time. The brightest minds in a recruitment effort that the entire world was envious of were preparing to leave.

Also in the fall, longtime owner FSG hinted that it would be willing to sell Liverpool before shifting its focus to a still-ongoing hunt for a minority investor.

Some people believed that the Reds’ off-field unpredictability would affect them on the field and that a domino effect would inevitably occur. Even if the connection is undoubtedly indirect, it is exactly what happened.

With the anticipated departures of Roberto Firmino and James Milner followed by the very much unforeseen sales of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to Saudi Arabia, Liverpool will enter the 2019–20 season without a number of its former stalwarts.

As a result, the Reds may sign up to five new players, including a new center-back and two additional midfielders to replace the duo in addition to Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai. If incomings and outgoings are added together, that makes nine essential transfers within a single timeframe.

Additionally, Jürgen Klopp is switching to a new style of play in conjunction with everything else. He has switched to a completely different system, which fundamentally alters the roles of not only the recently added hybrid midfielder Trent Alexander-Arnold but also the right-sided center-back, who must cover more ground, the left-back, who is anticipated to tuck into form a three, and the three current midfielders, whose positions have been altered.

The Reds have never started a season under Klopp with this many changes occurring all at once.