On the switch deadline, Liverpool celebrated the record-breaking acquisition of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isaac, ending weeks of hypothesis and hostility in the direction of his future.
Isaac is determined to signal Anfield’s aspect, and he has his want within the last time. Liverpool has gems. Critic Alan Shearer mentioned in early 2025 that “every little thing about his recreation is of the highest quality.”
But it surely did not all go down the Reds’ path, with Crystal Palace centre again Mark Guech’s extended summer time pursuit in the end leaving them empty-handed.
The whole lot appeared able to be greener because the three Lions stars accomplished their medical care with the Premier League champions, however exterior points left the 25-year-old at Selhurst Park.
Why Liverpool needed Mark Guech
With Ibrahima Conate getting into the ultimate yr of his contract with Liverpool, it was essential {that a} recent defensive look beneath him as skipper Virgil van Dik turned 34 in July approached the Twilight of his profession.
And sports activities director Richard Hughes has come nearer to creating its arrival, as he has been pursuing England Worldwide over the summer time and has been eagerly eagerly ready for a inexperienced mild from Eagles Chairman Steve Parish.
He mentioned he was “England’s greatest participant” on the 2024 European Championships by analyst Ben Matinson. Nguehe’s cool and picked up defensive presence merged with a simple ball-play recreation that implies he’ll dovetail rapidly to the Liverpool workforce within the slot.
FSG retains confidence within the Actual Guard choices, however Guehi had added icing to the cake. Particularly, slots are defending their Premier League titles and wish to problem silverware on the entrance line.
League Statistics 24/25 -Guehi vs Leoni | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics (*per recreation) | Guehi | Leoni |
Match (begin) | 34 (34) | 17 (14) |
the purpose | 3 | 1 |
help | 2 | 0 |
contact* | 64.9 | 46.9 |
Move accomplished | 84% | 89% |
Key Move* | 0.5 | 0.1 |
Ball restoration* | 4.3 | 2.0 |
dribble* | 0.4 | 0.2 |
Sort out + Intercept* | 2.6 | 1.7 |
clearance* | 4.6 | 3.6 |
Duels (successful)* | 4.9 (59%) | 2.5 (61%) |
An error has occurred | 2 | 1 |
All information through couch rating | ||
Leoni is a prime expertise, and the hope is that he someday stands the place Van Dick stood as a long-term star for Liverpool. However he isn’t the one teenage prospect the membership boasts, however the current members of the slot workforce shall be able to cowl the gaps the place Guehi is meant to be.
Liverpool already has its personal Guehi
Unquestionably, Leoni is without doubt one of the most enjoyable defensive outlooks within the enterprise, with solely 18 remaining open for enchancment within the coming years.
Nevertheless, Italian Worldwide may even want time to develop abilities within the coming years, and can finally attain a stage the place he’ll thrive as a daily starter.
Joe Gomez is regardless of his curiosity in transfers from elsewhere on the deadline, his expertise has helped Leoni soften the way in which issues go, and the identical could be mentioned about fellow teenager Amara Naro.
Naro is not off to an ideal begin on the senior aspect of the slots. I’ve to say it. In January, Naro was despatched out on his skilled debut, and joined the struggle in the course of the closure stage, hacking Johan Bakayoko. Sadly, Slot mentioned after the match the teen would “study” from his errors.
It stays Liverpool’s Naro’s solely senior, however he has sat three extra first workforce video games on the bench over the 2024/25 season, giving him his apparent high quality to emerge from the academy, and was in a position to show he’s very robust and technically proficient at one in all his ranges.
Actually, being despatched to your huge bow is not too gay-hee, however the palace man acquired an oblique card suspension final season, displaying that he too has the power to make a mistake.
And Naro had been described previously as “centre-back Rolls-Royce” by West Ham coach Carlton Cole, so a easy mistake did not make him outline him.
Surprisingly sufficient, Naro is 2 ft so it may doubtlessly cowl Vandic and Conate all through the course of the marketing campaign. England U19 Worldwide has earned 53 appearances for Liverpool youth aspect within the two years he was on the Margeside.
I needed to signal Guehi for high quality and expertise on the highest stage, to not point out Liverpool, however maybe the power on each side of the central protection additionally caught Hughes’ consideration. In any case, the English star was described by the aforementioned analyst Matinson as “one of many versatile CBs who can play each side equally comfortably.”
The try to signal Liverpool’s Guech has aggravated the Pink’s fanbase, however he was very near seeing the defenders carrying the Pink, however folks like Leoni and Naro in all probability gave them a quiet cheer as they’ve in all probability been on a clearer path in the direction of taking part in time for months.
Naro may be like a forgotten man at this level, however he was entrusted with the primary workforce function within the huge stage final season.
Given his tactical tendencies like Guehi, that is in all probability an excellent alternative he must make that leap and show he deserves a long-term function in Liverpool’s first workforce.
