Liverpool given clear sign of return to Michael Edwards methods after transfer decision

The more things change, the more things stay the same is an apt saying that reflects the current climate at Liverpool. Saturday saw the Reds begin a Premier League season without Jurgen Klopp at the helm for the first time since August 2015, with Arne Slot guiding his new side to a hard-fought 2-0 victory over newly promoted Ipswich Town.

In terms of personnel, it was more of the same from Liverpool as Slot named stalwarts Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker, Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold in the starting XI at Portman Road. But it was on the touchline that such changes were apparent as Sipke Hulshoff, Fabian Otte, Aaron Briggs, Ruben Peeters and John Hetinga joined the Dutchman in overseeing a first Premier League match with the Reds.

Liverpool, though, would have been keen for a sixth summer addition to enjoy a first sampling of Premier League football at Portman Road on Saturday afternoon. But those plans were scrapped just days before as Spain international Martin Zubimendia rejected a move to Anfield in favour of staying at Real Sociedad.

Sporting director Richard Hughes had worked on a deal to sign the 25-year-old, regarded by the Reds' transfer chiefs as a belated defensive midfield replacement for Fabinho after his move to the Saudi Pro League last summer. That was before Sociedad turned on the charm offensive and was convinced by Sociedad to snub interest from Slot's side and remain in La Liga.

The Spaniard's snubbing of a move comes after Liverpool failed to convince Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia and Aurelien Tchouameni to move to Anfield in 2022 and 2023. But unlike the aforementioned trio, who eventually signed for Chelsea and Real Madrid respectively, Zubimendi insisted on remaining loyal to his boyhood club.

But with Ryan Gravenberch impressing as he was utilised in a defensive midfield role in the final weeks of pre-season and again at Portman Road last weekend, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Slot and Liverpool let this month's transfer deadline pass without further attempts to recruit a new midfielder. And if Liverpool are to hold out and wait for a new number-one target in the defensive midfield position, it won't be the first time they have held their nerve in the transfer market.

Of course, it was back in June 2017 that they pursued a deal for Virgil van Dijk from Southampton as Jurgen Klopp looked to reinforce the Reds' options in the centre of midfield. However, a move for the Dutchman did not materialise that summer despite the defender being set on a move to Anfield, with Liverpool eventually forced to apologise and publicly cease their pursuit of Van Dijk.

It meant that Liverpool began the 2017/18 season without Van Dijk, Klopp instead made to call upon Dejan Lovren, Joe Gomez, Ragnar Klavan and Joel Matip. But despite links to Kalidou Koulibaly and Stefan de Vrij, Ingo Martinez and Jonathan Tah, Liverpool, instructed by sporting director Michael Edwards, stuck to their principles and refused to settle for a 'second choice' alternative to Van Dijk, who was quickly establishing himself as one of the best defenders in the Premier League.

Now, seven years later, Liverpool find themselves in a slightly different position as unlike Zubimendi, Van Dijk didn't reject a move to Anfield. Rather Southampton looked to halt the Reds' annual raid of St Mary's - or at least delay it in Van Dijk's case.

But that isn't to say that lessons can't be learned from that particular saga, with Liverpool and Edwards showing that they will not panic when met with adversity in the market. In spite of such upheaval at Anfield this summer, Liverpool find themselves in a familiar position.