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Liverpool could be sleepwalking towards HUGE mistake in the transfer market
My personal opinion is that if Liverpool do not make at least one more signing before the end of the window, then it would be a huge mistake on the club’s part. But with just a few days remaining, that possibility is certainly growing.
The word from within the club is that they are very much ‘open to opportunities’, which means if the right player is available at the right price, they will make a move. But as we’ve seen previously, Liverpool’s definition of ‘the right player’, or more specifically ‘the right price’, can be pretty narrow!
There are lots of stories surrounding Ryan Gravenberch of Bayern Munich, and were he to become available late in the window (there is a good chance) then I think Liverpool would certainly be in the mix. They like his profile, his potential and his ability to play multiple positions across the midfield. If the price was right, it would make a lot of sense.
There’s also Andre of Fluminense, and I’d not be surprised if we saw a deal for him lined up, maybe for January, once the South American season is done and dusted. Whether they would sign him AND another midfield player, though, I’m not as sure.
Personally, I believe a defender is a necessity for Liverpool in this window, but that looks less and less likely at the moment. It looks like they are going to go with what they have, but things can change quickly. A lot of fans will hope that is the case!
Potential exits and loans to watch out for
There will be some departures at Anfield before the window closes, but the aim for Jurgen Klopp is to keep his main squad together. The club have insisted that they will resist any offers for Mohamed Salah – none have arrived yet – and have played down talk of exits for Joe Gomez and Thiago Alcantara.
Nat Phillips is one who will be allowed to leave, and the Bundesliga is a serious option for him. At 26, he needs a move and I expect him to get one this week, finally.
In terms of loans, Tyler Morton is wanted by Hull City, Luke Chambers has interest from a number of clubs and a decision will be made on young talent Bobby Clark, who will get a new contract and could then move to the Championship.
A few other U21 players could also get fixed up with temporary moves, though I expect both Ben Doak and Jarell Quansah, who have featured in the Premier League this season, to stay.
Liverpool’s summer has been underwhelming, but no one has had a great window
If nothing else was to happen in terms of incomings, I’d say it’s been a pretty underwhelming window for Liverpool. Sure, they have bought well in Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, and added a bit of experience in Wataru Endo, but this was a window in which we expected the club to show serious ambition and really respond to the disappointments of last season.
Instead, we find them in a familiar position; with a good team but weaknesses that haven’t been addressed. They are still at the mercy of injuries to key players – Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk – still have too many players with question marks around their age, form or fitness – Matip, Gomez, Thiago, Curtis Jones, Stefan Bajcetic – and the general feeling is that, once again, they have talked a better game than they have played in the market.
In terms of the rest of the top six, I don’t think anyone has had what I would call a brilliant window.
Manchester City, naturally, remain strong, and Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic are fine players, but the loss of Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez will be felt this season, and Kevin De Bruyne’s injury hurts them.
Manchester United have gambled big on Rasmus Hojlund, and we’ll see whether that pays off. Chelsea have spent big and bought a lot of talent, but it may take time before that bears fruit, if ever. Arsenal got a lot of praise for their business, but Jurrien Timber is injured, the jury is still out on Kai Havertz and Declan Rice alone won’t turn a team into winners. I still have my doubts about the Gunners.
Tottenham look to have got the right manager in Ange Postecoglou, and have added quality in Micky van de Ven and James Maddison in particular, but losing Harry Kane will hurt them badly as the season goes on. It might look OK now, but as summer turns to autumn, injuries mount and things get tight, Spurs will miss Kane’s ability to win matches on his own. Richarlison is no replacement.
Finally Newcastle. They’ve added a few good players in Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes, Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento, but are they covered in the event of a big injury to, say, Sven Botman, or to Bruno Guimaraes? They’re getting better and better, but they’ll have a job on their hands to get top four, especially once the Champions League kicks in.
Overall, I’m looking at City as the winners in this market, although Chelsea’s business is the most interesting for me.
Thoughts on Darwin Nunez, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold against Newcastle
This was a big moment for Darwin Nunez, and for Liverpool. He’s had to be patient at the start of this season, but there was a true match-winning contribution, and the kind of clinical finishes Reds fans have been desperate to see from their No.9.
Anyone who has watched Nunez knows he is a magnet for goal-scoring chances. His movement is excellent, particularly off the shoulder, and he has searing pace to go with it.
The question has been over his finishing, and his ability to carry out the work his manager wants when out of possession. Clearly, Klopp feels Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota press better and defend from the front better, but if Nunez can improve that element, and if he can finish the way he did up at St James’ Park, then he’s going to be hard to leave out of the team. The good news for Klopp is that he has five forwards, all of them with different attributes, who are all ready to contribute. Liverpool’s attack this season looks stacked!
I don’t think Virgil van Dijk could have any complaints over his red card. Once it’s given as a foul – and it was a foul – then it has to be a red card. The more worrying thing is that it is the kind of mistake Van Dijk simply didn’t make a few years back. He was always in control in situations like that, but he perhaps has just lost a little of that sharpness, or that clarity in his decision-making, and it cost him. His reaction towards the match officials might cost him an extra game or two’s ban, too. Not great.
Alexander-Arnold was lucky to avoid a second yellow card, but unlucky in the extreme to have been given the first booking. How the referee could look at the challenge from Anthony Gordon and not give a foul is anyone’s guess, and if the correct decision is given there then we don’t have the flashpoint that emerges subsequently. It was certainly a testing first 45 minutes for Alexander-Arnold, one he won’t look back on with any great fondness. He’ll know he got away with one, but credit to him, and Liverpool, for their second-half spirit. That was a big win, and Alexander-Arnold’s roar to the away end in the closing stages told you that.
Jude Bellingham reminding Liverpool what they missed out on
What a start Jude Bellingham has made at Real Madrid – a reminder of what Liverpool missed out on after their lengthy pursuit of the player during his Borussia Dortmund days.
I don’t think it’s any surprise to see Bellingham lighting up La Liga. He is already one of the best midfield players in world football, and I don’t think it’ll be long before we’re talking about him in terms of Ballon d’Ors and England captaincy. He’s going right to the top, as long as he can stay injury free.
In terms of the Premier League, I guess that depends on what he achieves in Madrid, and how quickly. Once you’re there, you don’t tend to turn your back on the place quickly, and it feels like Real Madrid are set up to be built around players like Bellingham for the next five, six years and beyond. The Premier League may be where the money is at, but nowhere does glamour and trophies like the Bernabeu, and having taken the plunge to go there now, when he had plenty of English interest, I don’t expect Bellingham to turn his back on that any time soon.