Liverpool’s season has not felt dramatic, but it has often felt slightly off. There have been wins that did not convince and performances that drifted without warning, leaving the table position feeling more comfortable than the football itself. Under Arne Slot, Liverpool were expected to regain control and clarity, yet too many matches have slipped into uncertainty. While attention keeps shifting toward attacking options, the deeper issue lies elsewhere, in an area that continues to shape games quietly and decisively.
WHY THE SEASON STARTED LOUD BUT SETTLED QUICKLY
Liverpool did not drift into this season quietly. The summer window was busy and expensive, with new faces arriving early and expectations rising fast. This was supposed to be a reset, not the start of a long transition.
Once the football began, that momentum faded. Results came in patches, but consistency never followed. Performances hinted at progress without fully delivering, and despite all the changes, Liverpool still looked like a side searching for answers. The gap between ambition in the market and uncertainty on the pitch has lingered ever since.
WHY ADAM WHARTON KEEPS COMING UP
Adam Wharton is not the type of player who announces himself loudly. At Crystal Palace, he has grown into games rather than taken them over, quietly becoming a reliable presence in midfield. That understated profile is part of his appeal.
Watching Wharton, the first thing that stands out is how rarely he looks rushed. He shows for the ball early, keeps it moving, and stays comfortable in tight spaces. It is not spectacular football, but it is steady, and it brings order to the game around him.
That contrast is hard to ignore when set against Liverpool’s midfield this season. Too often, they have been pulled into reacting rather than dictating. Wharton feels like the kind of player who calms those moments, tidying things up quietly and giving others the freedom to play.
WHERE LIVERPOOL REALLY NEED HELP
Liverpool’s interest in attacking reinforcements is understandable. The left side can feel predictable, and uncertainty around Mohamed Salah only adds to the concern. But adding attackers without fixing the base risks repeating familiar mistakes.
Too often this season, forwards have looked isolated. That has not been down to movement, but to service arriving late or under pressure. A midfielder like Wharton would not turn Liverpool into title contenders overnight. He could, however, make their football feel cleaner and more dependable. In tight matches, that difference often matters.
HOW SUPPORTERS ARE READING THE SITUATION
Reaction among supporters has been mixed, but it has been revealing. Some still want pace and flair out wide. Others see midfield as the area that has quietly slipped. There is growing acceptance that structure matters more than spectacle, especially in a league that punishes disorganisation quickly.
Wharton has increasingly been framed as a “system signing”. He is seen as a player who improves what is already there rather than stealing attention. That shift in thinking reflects a fanbase that has watched seasons unravel before when control in midfield was left unresolved.
WHAT A MOVE LIKE THIS WOULD SIGNAL
A serious move for Wharton would say a lot about the direction under Arne Slot. It would not feel like a panic buy or a short-term gamble. It would feel deliberate and planned.
The price tag will invite debate. But ignoring midfield balance is a familiar risk for Liverpool. Slot’s football relies on control in the centre of the pitch, and without it, progress will remain uneven.
AUTHOR’S INSIGHT
Liverpool’s season does not feel broken, but it does feel unfinished. Wharton may never dominate headlines, yet his profile fits what Arne Slot is trying to build at Liverpool. Sometimes the most important signings are the ones that make everything else finally feel settled.
As featured on Walkon.com
