That’s a good point re United, my concerns however are
1) Would we attract top talent like Alonso if they can’t pick their own players?
It depends. Alonso doesn't at the moment and when he goes to Madrid he won't there either. Mourinho stated his ideal position is just to be a head coach. Rodgers wanted to be a manager and refused to work under a DoF. I can imagine Rafa wanting more power.
2) Where does innovation happen if we are buying players who suit our style of play? Klopp has gone but we will be playing his type of football ad infinitum ? Liverpool played the boot room way for years, pass and move. In the nineties Ferguson brought in a new style with his fast wingers and aggressive pressing. We had to adapt.
With a successful set up like Txiki & Pep they are completely in alignment football wise, talk all the time and of course it can evolve. Txiki worries about how to replace de Bruyne in 2 years and Pep himself in 5. Pep can then concentrate on having sleepless nights about facing Jurgen's teams
.
3) What is the record of those picking the players? Are they good at it.
It's no silver bullet. Txiki bought de Bruyne but then someone bought Rafa a table when he wanted a lamp or something when he was at Valencia. I think Bob Paisley would have made an excellent DoF and Roy Evans would have fared much better under him with just head coach responsibilities. The boot room doesn't really go away just the division of responsibilities.
Of all clubs Liverpools culture is manager over team. He is the leader of a city not just a club. The manager not picking the players is changing a fundamental part of our DNA.
Oh I dunno. The Manc deification of 'SAF' is something to behold which seem to increase the longer they carry on being shit. There's nothing wrong with having a charismatic head coach but Bob was the manager of my youth so personally I don't need a messianic figure. I'm just happy when we win!