Liverpool’s lack of defensive midfield options has become a major concern for the club ahead of the new season.
Despite signing Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai to bolster their midfield, the departure of key players like James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita, Fabinho, and Jordan Henderson has left a significant void in the defensive midfield position.
The bids from Saudi clubs for Fabinho and Henderson were too tempting to resist, but Liverpool’s failure to secure adequate replacements has left fans frustrated.
With just a week remaining before the start of the season, Liverpool’s midfield remains in a precarious situation.
Thiago Alcantara is the only defensive midfielder currently available, but concerns over his injury history and suitability for Jurgen Klopp’s high-pressing system have raised doubts about his ability to be a key player for the team this season.
Speaking on CBS, Charlie Davies claimed that Thiago Alcantara no longer has the legs to play week in week out for the high pressing Liverpool team. He said:
“Who do you think is starting in the midfield? What is the best three? Because I think Thiago, he just doesn’t have the legs to cover the ground in the high press. That’s’ why he’s not seeing the playing time.”
The club’s reliance on makeshift solutions, such as Curtis Jones playing as a number 6, is far from ideal.
Liverpool will need to address their defensive midfield issues urgently to ensure they have a well-balanced and competitive squad for the challenges ahead in the upcoming season.
Trent, He’s not at his best as RB, but his distribution is excellent. Get Pavard in, Gomez as cover. Trent as No6 with Bajcetic playing alongside.
We can then play 3-4-3 or 4-3-3.
Liverpool has disjointed defense and midfield as a result of transfer failures over the last 2-3 seasons. The team will be greatly exposed this 23/24 season for carrying deadlegs if drastic actions are not taken now. Liverpool Board shld be biz-minded to do away with sentiments and now get rid of players that fast declining, injury prone players and average players likewise. Klopp’s high press momentum and pattern of play is highly demanding and energy sapping. And this oupled with the fact that barring injuries Klopp uses same set of players for a season then to expect high-level productivity input of more than (2-3) years from such players is self-deceit. Borrow a leaf from Man City FC, once a players overall input is on the decline he is show the exit door the public perception/ratings/opinions notwithstanding.