Liverpool are a staff with apparent flaws, however they’re additionally a surprising staff once they’re firing on all cylinders.
Arne Slott’s aspect have struggled to get forward, suppose by means of or overcome in latest months this season, typically dropping six of seven video games in all competitions earlier than a managed victory over Aston Villa within the Premier League.
However there was one thing completely different about their 1-0 victory over their European rivals Actual Madrid. Anfield roared for Virgil van Dijk and his Redmen, roared at Los Blancos and ex-Liverpool man Trent Alexander-Arnold, and acquired a frosty reception when he arrived after 80 minutes.
Liverpool 1-0 Actual Madrid | ||
|---|---|---|
liverpool | statistics | actual madrid |
1 | the purpose | 0 |
2.51 | Anticipated objectives (xG) | 0.45 |
17(9) | Variety of photographs (on track) | 8(2) |
4 | large probability | 1 |
111.4km | Mileage | 112.7km |
38.8% | Possession | 61.2% |
4 | nook | 2 |
45% | received a duel | 55% |
Information by way of Sofascore | ||
That is the Liverpool we all know. Vitality, depth and goal throughout all areas of the sector. However whereas Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate held up nicely in opposition to Kylian Mbappé and the full-backs had been glorious, the plain reality stays that the Merseysiders are in dire want of reinforcements in central defence.
Liverpool are searching for a centre-back
Liverpool, in fact, signed a centre-back this summer season, including Giovanni Leoni to their squad for a price of £26 million. The 18-year-old was definitely worth the wait after profitable gold, however he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament on his debut in opposition to Southampton and has now been sidelined for nearly a 12 months.
However the failure to lure Marc Guehi away from Crystal Palace is undoubtedly a much bigger blow. A deal was virtually finalized on deadline day, however the Eagles had been unable to discover a appropriate alternative and had little time to make a cease, with the participant allowed to bear a medical at Anfield and the switch fell by means of.
There’s nonetheless a chance that they are going to be collectively. Guehi, 25, is within the closing 12 months of his contract at Selhurst Park and has no intention of signing a brand new contract. The issue now’s that lots of Europe’s prime groups are searching for his signature, however Spanish newspaper AS confirmed this week that the Reds stay joint-top of the desk, forward of the likes of Actual Madrid, together with Bayern Munich.
Liverpool need to signal Gehi for Bosman earlier than the tip of the season, but when that does not occur in that race, sporting director Richard Hughes has an ideal alternative in Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni.
An additional Spanish supply mentioned that Liverpool have been talked about as potential candidates for Italian defender Bastoni, with FSG contemplating a bid of 100 million euros (roughly 8.7 billion yen) in January this 12 months.
The veracity of this creating story is unknown at this stage, however there is no such thing as a doubt that the 26-year-old is gifted sufficient to face out beneath Slott and has the model and expertise to make a noticeable distinction with Van Dijk inching in the direction of the autumn of his glittering profession at Anfield.
What Bastoni gives Liverpool
Liverpool want a centre-back. They’ve wanted it for some time. Gehi was the primary selection this summer season, however Bastoni, whose ‘world-class’ potential has been hailed by commentator Matteo Bonetti, may very well be a extra enticing possibility for the Anfield aspect.
He’s a defender on the prime of his sport and one of the essential cogs within the Nerazzurri machine, having received two Scudettos and two Coppa Italia titles within the final 5 seasons, in addition to profitable the 2021 European Championship with Italy.
And the 26-year-old falls into the identical class as Guehi. A centre-back with the expertise to make an instantaneous impression, his prime years are but to come back as he develops deeper into his slot position inside the staff and reaches a complete new stage of efficiency.
He is among the finest gamers in his place on the planet. In Serie A this season, Bastoni has one purpose and two assists in 9 video games, profitable 70% of his aerial duels and averaging 1.8 tackles per sport (knowledge courtesy of Sofascore).
A powerful passer and outside-the-box thinker, he might even surpass Guehi in ball-playing metrics, a Palace man identified for his cool, calm and artistic presence on the ball.
Bastoni vs Guehi (final 12 months) | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics (per 90) | stick | Guehi |
the purpose | 0.05 | 0.06 |
help | 0.05 | 0.09 |
contact | 89.54 | 60.67 |
Go completion price (%) | 86.5 | 83.5 |
progressive path | 5.29 | 4.09 |
The motion that creates the shot | 2.36 | 1.53 |
progressive carry | 1.88 | 0.77 |
profitable take-up | 0.31 | 0.26 |
Variety of balls collected | 3.53 | 4.12 |
deal with + interception | 2.62 | 3.12 |
clearance | 2.85 | 4.56 |
received an aerial battle | 1.53 | 1.91 |
Information by way of FBref | ||
As you’ll be able to see, Guehi has grow to be a extra energetic defensive contributor over the previous 12 months. That is what you’ll count on from a staff like Palace within the Premier League when in comparison with Italian giants like Inter. However Bastoni is smoother and extra succesful with the ball, and that is the place Guehi shines.
Granted, Gehi will probably be a free agent on the finish of the marketing campaign, which is essential, however whether or not Liverpool and FSG are keen to go up the chance to signal a participant of Bastoni’s caliber is one other matter solely. In any case, it seems bids are at present being made in bulk, in accordance with experiences.
A formidable centre-half with the passing vary of a maestro has emerged. Liverpool might do loads worse than including Bastoni to their squad and securing a long-term Van Dijk successor with the proper skillset to ease the switch ache.
Bastoni. The proper elite bastion to guard Liverpool’s final line for years to come back. He has a wealth of expertise on the highest stage and a starvation to attain much more.
He is extraordinarily gifted, even perhaps higher than Guehi, and with him within the combine, the slot protection will attain a daunting stage of security, stability, and development.
