Liverpool and Manchester City have both been struck by a dangerous problem

Liverpool must have had a better transfer window more often than Manchester City in the past ten years. That seems a realistic appraisal of the business the clubs did in January, but things can change quickly in football at this moment.

The most major transaction on either side seems to involve a departure rather than a signing. After allegedly clashing with Pep Guardiola, City let Joao Cancelo to join Bayern Munich on loan. Full-backs are a favorite of the Spaniard’s, and Cancelo has been crucial to much of City’s recent success. A defender who had made the PFA Team of the Year for the previous two seasons leaving the team came as a shock.

Maximo Perrone was the only addition for the reigning Premier League champions. Since the 20-year-old midfielder only made his professional debut in March of last year, City is unlikely to see much immediate benefit from his presence. Their team is obviously weaker now than it was when 2023 began.

While Liverpool did not sign a midfielder to solve the team’s most obvious weakness, they did add a promising young player who should make an immediate impact. After joining the team amid a particularly tumultuous period on the field, Cody Gakpo has yet to make an impact. However, based on his track record, it seems inevitable that he will eventually score or provide an assist.

Chelsea’s incredible spending has contrasted sharply with the top two teams in the Premier League’s relative lack of activity from the previous season (both last month and across the last year). There is no doubt that Todd Boehly’s behavior will have shocked other major clubs in England and throughout the continent, even though City and Liverpool don’t need to add as many players to their already strong rosters.

Every other team appears to have underperformed or overspent by comparison to Chelsea. The Blues are a notable exception, though, and there were undoubtedly other teams that might have had stronger windows than Liverpool and their rivals from Manchester.

Arsenal added several respectable players to their roster without bringing in a superstar. Leandro Trossard is a diligent forward, as the Reds are all too aware, and Jorginho provides experience and knowledge because he has won almost everything. They should aid the Gunners in maintaining their unexpected title challenge.

Anthony Gordon will be hoped to accomplish the same for Newcastle in their quest to qualify for the Champions League. Although the Magpies strengthened a section of a squad that required more help than the Reds did, it’s fair to say that Liverpool acquired a superior winger for approximately the same money in January. It will eventually become clear which team made the better deal, although it won’t be Everton if they are demoted in May.

The business that Manchester United was conducting may have made Liverpool supporters a little envy. They didn’t get world-beaters, but they did fill in some holes in their roster by using the loan market, something the Reds failed to do well with the temporary signings of Steven Caulker, Ozan Kabak, and Arthur Melo in the Jurgen Klopp era

The era of City and Liverpool being the unquestioned top dogs appears to be coming to an end given the performances of Arsenal, Newcastle, and United this season as well as Chelsea’s pricey attempt to assemble a new team.

The Reds are obviously much more likely to lose their spot in the Champions League, and they could not pay their way back in like City might if necessary. However, there is a faint resemblance to the ‘Thrilla in Manila,’ the illustrious third fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.

After 14 brutal rounds, neither combatant could almost get up to continue. Who could blame Liverpool and the Cityzens if, after their five-year conflict, they felt comparable (in football terms)?

The Premier League’s changing sands and the January transfer window may have indicated that both clubs are positioned for respective periods of transformation.