Liverpool are in a spot of bother, and not the kind that gets sorted with a last-minute winner at Anfield. Michael Edwards, the chief executive officer of football for Fenway Sports Group, is leaving the club, and that is a genuinely big deal for anyone who follows the Reds closely.
Edwards is widely regarded as one of the sharpest football minds in the modern game. He was the architect behind some of Liverpool's smartest transfer business during the Klopp era, helping bring in players like Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk at a time when rivals were spending fortunes and getting far less in return. Losing him is not something Liverpool can just shrug off with a press release and a nice thank-you card.
Now, as a Manchester United fan, there is a small, petty part of me that wants to rub my hands together at Liverpool's misfortune. But the honest truth is that instability at the top of any football club tends to have a real knock-on effect, and Liverpool are no exception. Arne Slot has done a genuinely impressive job in his first season in charge, and the last thing he needs is uncertainty swirling around above him while he is still trying to put his stamp on things.
FSG have generally been smart operators, so it would be premature to panic just yet. They rebuilt Liverpool's structure before and they may well do it again. But replacing someone of Edwards' calibre is not like nipping out to sign a squad player in January. Whoever comes in will take time to settle, time to build relationships, and time to understand the club's needs at every level.
For Liverpool supporters, the concern is not just losing Edwards but losing the momentum and clarity of vision that helped turn them into genuine European and domestic contenders. Football clubs can unravel quickly when the people in key roles start heading for the exits, and FSG will need to move carefully and decisively to make sure that does not happen here.
Let me know your thoughts.