Beating the London System

Having some trouble countering this opening, I've racked up a significant loss rate playing against this, even against opponents a fair bit weaker than myself.
Do you guys have any favourite lines you use against it? Or GMs/other titled players you follow that frequently play against it?

It seems to me my issue is I don't quite understand what black is trying to do, so I mostly play purposeless moves., while it seems white has a simple plan to follow. Are there squares to follow or common themes or weaknesses in white's middle game?

As an example, in the King's Gambit you take everything you have plus the kitchen sink and you throw it at your opponent. In Alekhine's defense you try to get your opponent to overextend and take advantage of pawn weaknesses (at least to my rather crude understanding). Playing against French defense, you know black's light squared bishop is weak, etc. What's the corollary to these thematic ideas against the London?

Thanks in advance.

My preferred move order is:
1 d4 c5

This might suit you as well since you like sharp openings such as Alekhine's defense. White's best response is clearly 2 d5 leading to the Benoni! This will be both challenging and fun to play. However, many London players will not be willing to enter this structure.

Alternatives include:

2 dxc5 e6 and white has "wasted" a tempo

2 Nf3 cxd4 and Black has exchanged a flank pawn for an important center pawn

2 Bf4 cxd4 and Black has exchanged a flank pawn for an important center pawn

2 c3 cxd4 3 cxd4 d5 transposing into the exchange Slav which has a solid reputation for equality

2 e3 e6 avoiding an early ...cxd4 which allows White to play exd4 and a subsequent Bf4 for the London!

In summary 1...c5 basically negates the London, but invites White to play into the Benoni structure. Some might argue that this is going from bad to worse. Objectively, that is true. Playing against the London as black is actually just fine. Playing the Benoni as black is dubious and possibly even unsound. However, it is more fun than playing against the boring London. Likewise 1 e4 e5 is significantly better than 1 e4 Nf6. If you enjoy Alekhine's, you will probably enjoy Benoni too. Both often result in razor sharp positions with an emphasis on counter play.

@benoni2018 that sounds like great impartial advice

From a strategical perspective, avoiding the structures your opponent favors makes a lot of sense. London players typically prefer a very solid and familiar setup where they try to squeeze water from a stone. Why not take them out of their comfort zone and challenge them to a game of chicken? When playing the Benoni, it's like White gets a big truck and Black gets a little sedan. Nevertheless, both sides will still need to play extremely accurately.

I always play 1.d4 d5, and with the London setup, go for a classical opening position with Nf6, c5, and Nc6. Easy equality.

If they play Nf3 before Nd2, then you can play Qb6 to get initiative on the Queenside. If they play Nd2, I still generally go with the queenside push without the quick Qb6, pulling the bishops back for support and using the knights to harass and exchange off. Keep in mind e4/e5 are potential knight outposts, and the typical break on the c-file for Black.

A few recent sample games that show some of the themes with this strategy: