Liverpool on verge of ‘real mess’ after deadline day developments at Anfield
Liverpool had a mixed bag on transfer deadline day.
Alexander Isak joined Liverpool for a British record £125million fee, bringing an end to a complex transfer saga on the final day of the window.
Arne Slot’s side have been backed to retain their Premier League crown by Fenway Sports Group, but there was a tinge of sadness as Harvey Elliott left Liverpool to join Aston Villa.
There was another incoming planned, but ultimately that deal did not happen.
Liverpool’s failure to sign Marc Guehi will damage them
Liverpool failed with an effort to sign Marc Guehi on deadline day, after Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner felt they could not get a replacement in.
talkSPORT hosts Jeff Stelling and Olivia Buzaglo agreed that the Reds were in trouble after failing to sign Guehi.
Stelling said: “I think it is a massive blow for Liverpool, by the way, I thought they had a wonderful window until that deal fell through, and now, they have left themselves potentially very short at the back.”
His co-host Buzaglo replied: “If anything happens, obviously you don’t wish injury on anyone and you hope everyone can stay fit, but they are one Virgil van Dijk injury away from being a real mess at the back.”
- Read More: Newcastle insiders make explosive Alexander Isak sabotage allegation as he arrives at Liverpool
Liverpool cannot kick themselves over Marc Guehi failure
Liverpool could have done with Guehi, there is no doubt about that, but they should be fine until the winter window opens, when they can revive a deal.
They have Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez and Giovanni Leoni in their ranks, and could utilise Wataru Endo as an emergency option in the position.
It is nowhere near as dire as Stelling and Buzaglo claim, and apart from the brutal anterior cruciate ligament injury that he suffered in October 2020, Van Dijk has been largely injury-free.
Konate’s injury record has been a bit worse, but it did improve last season as he made 31 appearances in the league-winning campaign.
- Van Dijk has missed 79 games for club and country in his Liverpool career
- Konate has missed 45 matches for club and country since joining the Reds
- Gomez has missed a total of 276 games club and country since his 2015 move
Gomez is a brilliant option when he is available, as he proved in the 1-0 win over Arsenal, making the most clearances of any Liverpool player with seven.
Not much is known about Leoni, but the Reds clearly trust him to step in when needed, otherwise they would have loaned him out, so he could get more experience of senior football.
The opportunity to get Guehi for £35m was too good to turn down, but now, if they can get him for less, or even on a free transfer next summer, they will not mind.
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