As soon as Luis Diaz swept a powerful end previous the gallant Alphonse Areola, few onlookers sat within the London Stadium would have wager on something aside from a Liverpool victory.
West Ham United had been crushed, picked aside and performed with by Arne Slot‘s unstoppable facet. Liverpool at the moment are eight factors away from second-placed Nottingham Forest with a recreation in hand – they’re agency favourites for the Premier League title.
It is all of the extra unimaginable when contemplating the variables. Jurgen Klopp stood down on the finish of a 2023/24 marketing campaign that tapered off for the Merseysiders; Federico Chiesa was the only real summer season signing for £12.5m and he is began only one recreation; arguably the three pre-eminent Liverpool gamers are out of contract on the finish of the time period, every in a position to talk about a pre-contract settlement with golf equipment from abroad.
Ibrahima Konate has additionally been injured for the most effective a part of a month after a sensational begin to the marketing campaign, hailed for reaching the “elite class of defenders” underneath his Dutch coach’s ways by one journalist.
The France worldwide remains to be out, and Joe Gomez has joined him within the infirmary.
Joe Gomez’s damage concern
Gomez scarcely featured within the Premier League over the primary few months of the season, maybe barely knocked out of kilter after a transfer to Newcastle United failed to succeed in the ultimate stage in August.
You would not suppose that the 27-year-old, Liverpool’s longest-serving first-team participant, would harbour too many grudges after the botched and potential switch, particularly now that he is thriving in Slot’s challenge.
One Serie A reporter has hailed him as a “coach’s dream,” together with his versatility and multi-faceted technical high quality making him a useful asset.
accidents have been the bane of his profession, nevertheless, and he appeared to drag his hamstring as Liverpool romped previous West Ham, lowering him to merely 37 minutes of motion and probably an prolonged spell on the sidelines.
To make sure, Liverpool may do with one other half on the rear, and FSG could sanction a transfer in 2025 after one Premier League star has expressed his want to play underneath the Anfield lights.
Prem centre-back needs to signal for Liverpool
As per reviews relayed by the Metro, Liverpool are eager about signing Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi – and the attraction is known to be reciprocated.
Guehi starred for the Three Lions at Euro 2024 and has been a rock behind the Eagles backline for a number of years, with Newcastle United lodging 4 unsuccessful bids for his signature in the summertime, the remaining of which totalled £65m.
With Palace eager on bringing Ben Doak – who’s at present shining away from Anfield for Middlesbrough – to Selhurst Park, maybe on mortgage, Liverpool may shift a couple of items to align with Slot’s imaginative and prescient, bolstering the backline with the proper new half.
Guehi can also be out of contract on the finish of the 2025/26 marketing campaign. The time to pounce is sort of upon us.
What Marc Guehi would convey to Liverpool
Crystal Palace signed Guehi from Chelsea in a switch value £18m in 2021 and he is since gone by the gears to succeed in England’s senior squad and appeal to curiosity from among the Premier League’s most interesting outfits.
He is an exquisite centre-half, endowed with a lion’s chew and a cheetah’s simple motion in entrance of the aim. Oh, and a devotion towards defending his aim and snuffing out attackers’ efforts. His former England U21 teammate Joe Bursik, a goalkeeper, has hailed him as “an absolute tank” of a defender up to now.
Oliver Glasner’s facet have struggled to recapture the dreamy type of the previous few months of the 2023/24 season, however with out Guehi, there isn’t any doubt that the Eagles could be caught within the pit of the Premier League.
|
Marc Guehi – Premier League Stats (24/25) |
|
|---|---|
|
Match Stats* |
# |
|
Matches (begins) |
18 (18) |
|
Objectives |
2 |
|
Assists |
1 |
|
Clear sheets |
4 |
|
Touches* |
66.3 |
|
Move completion |
84% |
|
Key passes* |
0.4 |
|
Dribbles (accomplished)* |
0.5 (82%) |
|
Ball recoveries* |
4.2 |
|
Tackles + interceptions* |
2.2 |
|
Clearances* |
4.8 |
|
Whole duels (gained)* |
5.5 (64%) |
|
Stats through Sofascore (* = per recreation) |
|
Analyst Ben Mattinson has claimed that the Englishman is “a kind of versatile CBs who can play each side equally as comfortably,” shifting with ease. This might be essential as Van Dijk enters the later stage of his good profession, for his taking part in time could have to be mitigated if he does certainly prolong his contract and captaincy on Merseyside.
As per FBref, Guehi additionally ranks among the many prime 7% of central defenders throughout Europe’s prime 5 leagues over the previous yr for assists and the highest 9% for profitable take-ons per 90, making a convincing touch upon his ball-playing and carrying abilities. Abilities which are tailored for Slot’s system.
A profitable take-on is recorded when a participant beats their opponent by immediately carrying the ball previous them whereas retaining possession.
Whether or not Liverpool succeed of their endeavour stays to be seen and doubtless will not develop into clear till the summer season solar stretches down onto Anfield.
Nevertheless, given Guehi’s dynamism, technical high quality and monstrous defensive talent set, there’s each cause why he might be the proper arrival at Liverpool, taking Slot’s system to the subsequent stage and elevating an already imperious backline.
Gomez should need a recent problem, and if he does get his want subsequent yr, this man, a person who needs to make the transfer, is the one to go for.
Associated
He needs to go away: Liverpool should promote star incomes greater than Jota & Gakpo
Slot’s Liverpool ace is seeking to depart the membership in 2025.
