It is increasingly starting to look like their very, very excellent team 18-20 was one put together to win a title rather than sustain success. They've got an aging squad, no midfield, an inability to manage a squad so players move on rather than stay and fight for a place, and have bought players at their peak or just past it.
They can have their pluckiest smallest biggest club all they want, they're failing to capitalise on winning the lottery in the transfer market and having the quality of manager they have and it isn't simply because we have money and they don't.