Liverpool won the Premier League at a canter last season, but significant changes across the past several months have left Arne Slot’s side looking somewhat imbalanced across the opening weeks of the campaign.
The Reds have relied on last-gasp winners against Bournemouth and Newcastle United in their opening matches of the term, shipping goals in both, though a glass-half-full perspective would suggest that Liverpool’s title-winning mentality is very much intact.
However, Mohamed Salah has been among those to suggest that the tweaks could have had an effect on the Anfield side, the Egyptian King acknowledging that the likes of Arsenal have strengthened considerably over the off-season months.
If Liverpool hope to defend their league title and push for silverware across further fronts, it’s vital that one or two more faces are welcomed through the door, with Newcastle’s Alexander Isak still a priority for sporting director Richard Hughes and co.
Liverpool's last-minute plans
The fight to sign Isak and complete Liverpool’s frontline has gone on and on this summer, but it appears to be coming to an exciting head for Slot’s outfit, with the Magpies having this week signed Stuttgart’s promising striker Nick Woltemade for a club-record £69m fee.
24/25
42
27
6
23/24
40
25
2
22/23
27
10
3
Isak scored 27 goals across all competitions for United last season, winning the Carabao Cup and sealing Champions League qualification.
Liverpool might have landed a top attacking talent in Ekitike, but they have sold Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez, and Isak would come with the guarantee of world-class output in the final third across the duration of the season and beyond.
A deal was reportedly agreed in the late hours of Sunday evening and, at long, long last, the Swede is set to move to Anfield.
It’s a deal worth £130m according to some reports, and it’s a signing that more than puts Liverpool in the driver’s seat for winning the top-flight.
However, Isak isn’t the only Premier League star on FSG’s radar at this late stage, with someone at the other end of the pitch anticipated to join in the coming days.
Liverpool submit late proposal
As per Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool have submitted an official proposal for Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi, having fought to sign the England star over the past several weeks.
Palace have resisted the Reds’ attempts to land the defender, who has entered the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park, but chairman Steve Parish has moved to sign replacements and the signs suggest Guehi is on the brink of sealing his move to Merseyside.
FSG have offered £35m flat for the 25-year-old, looking to close the deal with the view that Ibrahima Konate has entered the final 12 months of his deal and has yet to strike new terms with the Anfield side.
Why Liverpool need to seal late Guehi move
Liverpool signed Giovanni Leoni from Parma for £30m earlier in August. The 18-year-old defender is regarded as one of the great talents of his age bracket and has been integrated right into the first-team fold.
However, too much expectation can wear on an up-and-coming prospect, and adding Guehi to the mix would ensure that the Reds have enough depth in the rearguard to challenge across multiple fronts this season.
Matches (starts)
34 (34)
17 (14)
Goals
3
1
Assists
2
0
Touches*
64.9
46.9
Pass completion
84%
89%
Key passes*
0.5
0.1
Ball recoveries*
4.3
2.0
Dribbles*
0.4
0.2
Tackles + interceptions*
2.6
1.7
Clearances*
4.6
3.6
Duels (won)*
4.9 (59%)
2.5 (61%)
Errors made
2
1
Given the need for such a player and the probability that any deal would be finalised on deadline day, Guehi could even prove to be Liverpool’s finest last-minute signing since Luis Suarez way back when, with the Uruguayan striker joining from Ajax for around £23m in January 2011 after Fernando Torres left for Chelsea.
One of the greatest forwards in Premier League history, Suarez scored 82 goals and laid on 32 assists across all competitions, playing 133 times for the Reds.
Guehi, who is 25, could lead a similar legacy, albeit adding different positional value to Slot’s version of Liverpool.
Hailed as a “monster in defence” by Palace reporter Bobby Manzi, the Three Lions talent might not be directly replacing one of the club’s star members of the backline, but Konate’s long-term future is in doubt, and Virgil van Dijk will soon meet the twilight years of his illustrious career.
And like Suarez, Guehi is more than what his position suggests he might be skilled in. As per FBref, he ranks among the top 2% of centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 2% for through balls and the top 20% for successful take-ons per 90.
A successful take-on is recorded when a player beats their opponent by directly carrying the ball past them while retaining possession.
Such is the capacity of his skill set. Though Guehi would fetch a sizeable figure for one approaching free agency, Liverpool feel that his experience, quality and potential yet to be reached make for a compelling piece of business, should they get it done.
Suarez might not have played the prime years of his career Liverpool but he certainly left his mark on the Premier League, almost single-handedly dragging Brendan Rodgers’ side in 2013/14 to the league title.
Guehi would find a squad of greater depth and talent upon arrival in the coming days, and would hope to go one better and claim the prized trophy.
Liverpool have strengthened across the park this summer, and with deals for Isak and Guehi wrapped up before the end of the transfer window, few could deny that FSG will have equipped Slot with everything he needs to take last season’s success, solidify it, and use it as a springboard for another sustained period of success.
