Liverpool supporters have always been used to change, but never on the scale that has unfolded this summer under Arne Slot. What was expected to be a period of adjustment after Jurgen Klopp’s exit turned into something much bigger. Instead of making a few calculated moves, Liverpool went full throttle into one of the biggest rebuilds in the club’s modern history, spending more than £400 million and waving goodbye to several familiar faces. For a team that had just lifted the Premier League title, this was a decision that shocked the football world, and now, just weeks into the new campaign, there are murmurs that Slot may already have made his first big mistake.
The situation revolves around two players who could not be more different in their stage of career. Andy Robertson, the experienced left-back and Scotland captain, who has been the beating heart of Liverpool’s defense and a symbol of the club’s success over the last six years. And Ben Doak, the teenager whose fearless style had given Liverpool fans hope that the future was already here. Robertson was stripped of his starting role at Anfield by the younger Milos Kerkez, while Doak was sold to Bournemouth in a deal that puzzled many. The club secured a buy-back clause, but even that feels like a gamble that may come back to haunt them.
The spotlight on these decisions grew brighter during the international break. Scotland faced Belarus, and Robertson and Doak linked up in a way that felt natural, fluid, and unstoppable. Robertson rolled back the years with a dominant performance, touching the ball 161 times, maintaining a pass accuracy of 93 percent, and creating chances with the kind of energy that had made him one of the best full-backs in the world. Doak, meanwhile, brought the fearlessness that Liverpool fans had only seen in flashes. His dribbling was sharp, his pace was electric, and his understanding with Robertson was almost telepathic.
Watching them together, it was hard not to imagine what could have been if Slot had kept faith. The image of Robertson bombing forward and Doak cutting inside with fearless intent would have been a nightmare for Premier League defenders. Instead, Liverpool will only see that partnership in clips from Scotland matches, while Bournemouth reap the benefits of Doak’s development.
Slot’s rebuild was meant to be about upgrading every position, ensuring Liverpool stayed on top. On paper, he has done that. Alexander Isak arrived as a statement striker, Federico Chiesa brought flair, and the midfield was reshaped with dynamism and depth. But chemistry is not something you buy; it is something that grows. When you strip away too many familiar faces, the risk is always that you lose the invisible bonds that make a team greater than the sum of its parts. That is why this Robertson-Doak dynamic feels like a warning.
Robertson, though benched at club level, showed he remains at the peak of his powers. His performance for Scotland proved that he is far from done, and Liverpool may yet need him more than ever if Kerkez struggles to adapt. Meanwhile, Doak’s display was a reminder of what Liverpool once promised him—patience, minutes, and trust. Instead, he was moved on before he even had the chance to truly show what he could become at Anfield.
Of course, Liverpool do have that buy-back clause. But clauses are just words on paper. The reality is that if Doak flourishes at Bournemouth, other clubs will circle, and the player himself might decide his career is better served elsewhere. Liverpool may find themselves in the awkward position of having to pay a premium to bring back a player they already owned, or worse, watching him become a star for someone else.
This is why Slot’s decision is being scrutinized so heavily. Liverpool currently have just five senior attackers, and with a grueling season ahead that includes the Champions League, the FA Cup, and the relentless Premier League schedule, depth is crucial. Selling Doak reduced that depth at a time when Liverpool could least afford it. Injuries, fatigue, and form dips are inevitable, and when they come, fans may look back at this transfer and wonder why the club chose to weaken itself.
Liverpool’s history is full of stories about young players who were allowed to leave too soon. Some faded away, but others went on to shine elsewhere, leaving supporters wondering what might have been. Doak, with his talent and determination, feels like he could belong in the latter category. And if that happens, Slot will be the one held responsible.
Football is ruthless, and decisions often judged not in the moment but years later. Right now, Liverpool are still basking in the excitement of their big signings, but in the shadows, there is an unease that refuses to go away. Robertson’s brilliance for Scotland, combined with Doak’s promise, has only amplified that feeling. It is the kind of subplot that can quietly define a season.
If Liverpool go on to dominate under Slot, this summer’s decisions will be celebrated as bold and necessary. But if cracks begin to show, if chemistry takes too long to build, and if goals dry up at crucial moments, then the sale of Doak and the sidelining of Robertson will be pointed to as the mistakes that could have been avoided.
Liverpool have always prided themselves on being more than just a football club. They are a family, a unit that values loyalty and long-term vision. Letting go of a talent like Doak after investing in his growth seems to go against that tradition. Perhaps the buy-back clause will save them, perhaps Slot’s vision will pay off, but for now, the risk is real.
Arne Slot may have wanted to stamp his authority, to show that this is his Liverpool, not Klopp’s. But the best managers know that evolution beats revolution. Too much change, too soon, can destabilize even the strongest of teams. And if this gamble backfires, the memory of Robertson and Doak linking up in a Scotland shirt might just be the reminder of what Liverpool chose to give away
