Liverpool are ready for this nightmare to finish, having rediscovered the type of final season that led to the Premier League title and a summer time of great change underneath Arne Slott.
The signings made this summer time had been accomplished after cautious examine, however regardless of this, the Reds have lacked identification and inspiration this 12 months, leading to dismal outcomes. Even once they received, Liverpool gave their opponents loads of optimism.
It is price noting that Liverpool have been a lot better defensively this season than in earlier years, however it has achieved little to ease the fears of supporters who’ve been compelled to simply accept a bleak new commonplace.
Captain Virgil van Dijk was amongst these bittersweet. He’s on the coronary heart of Liverpool’s issues this season, a centre-back missing the answer he has typically been supplied with all through his illustrious profession on the membership.
Virgil van Dijk leaves the membership this season
Liverpool’s monster has been lethal this season with the tailwind of the slot system. Ibrahima Konate’s predicament is undoubtedly exacerbated by Van Dijk’s sluggish decline in fortitude.
He is 34 years previous and can be 35 on the finish of the season. It is no shock that the Dutch captain is beginning to decelerate. However Michael Edwards and sporting director Richard Hughes face a substantial problem as Konate approaches the top of his £70,000-a-week contract.
Liverpool signed Giovanni Leoni from Parma this summer time for round £27 million, however the 18-year-old Italian ruptured his ACL on his debut in opposition to Southampton and isn’t anticipated to return till the beginning of subsequent season.
Konate has began each Premier League sport this season regardless of his stoop, and the Italian would have offered much-needed dimension in latest months, permitting Slot to additional strengthen the rotation. Van Dijk is now mendacity subsequent to him.
Change is required and it’s clear that Liverpool want a centre-back because the winter switch window approaches.
Liverpool are concentrating on a centre-back in January
In accordance with TEAMtalk, Liverpool are set to make a bid for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehy this winter, having resumed direct communication with the participant’s agent this week after a deal failed in August.
Guehi’s contract at Selhurst Park expires on the finish of the season, however Liverpool took an opportunity on the 25-year-old initially of the season and there’s now definitely robust rival curiosity, with Bayern Munich and Actual Madrid regarded as potential suitors, particularly after agreeing private phrases with the participant.
Sources say FSG are keen to supply round £25m for Guehi’s contract in January and are keen to pay a little bit of a premium for one of many Premier League’s greatest centre-backs.
What Gehi brings to Liverpool
Guehi might nicely have proven his expertise at Liverpool now, however not a lot that sporting director Richard Hughes took a big gamble and arrived late, leaving Palace unable to discover a substitute and shutting the door on the eleventh hour.
I am actually dissatisfied. Guehi is an skilled Premier League star who continues to evolve. Palace reporter Bobby Munsey hailed him as a “defensive monster”, however he’s far more than that.
Over the previous 12 months, Guehi has ranked within the prime 7% of central defenders in Europe’s prime 5 leagues for by means of balls, within the prime 6% for assists and shot-creating actions, and within the prime 15% for tackles gained per 90, based on data-driven website FBref.
The motion that creates the shot is a part of the play that results in the shot. This contains the second a go, take-on, or foul is drawn.
If Liverpool are profitable in signing a two-footed centre-half this winter, they may shoulder the load of Van Dijk’s one-off deal, having joined from Southampton for £75m halfway by means of the 2017/18 season.
Van Dijk wants no introduction. He is among the biggest defenders in Premier League historical past and an enormous of the sport.
He has built-in himself into Jurgen Klopp’s thrilling squad, reinforcing it with metal. He was the mortar that stuffed the cracks and constructed an excellent group.
It is a tall order, however Guehi is broadly watched and will emulate the Dutchman if he arrives halfway by means of the season and gives much-needed aid.
Regardless of such unimaginable success in recent times, it’s shocking that Liverpool have fallen to date under anticipated ranges. That is at stake and nobody signing can utterly cease the rot, however Guehi has a combative, assured defensive model that might assist get the Reds again on monitor, and he has build-up qualities that Konate lacks.
It is Van Dijk-esque, and provided that Guehi arrives in January after beforehand attempting to signal, this might carry echoes of that long-awaited, high-flying signing.
