Liverpool have embraced winter’s chunk after a dreadful run of autumnal type, pulled firmly away from Premier League title rivalry as Arsenal and Manchester Metropolis put together to tussle for the gold medal as soon as once more.
Whereas Arne Slot shall be pissed off that his aspect aren’t within the combine after coming first with breezy ease final season, the severity of Liverpool’s decline may have shifted his focus to easily treading water and avoiding the axe, with many rising discontented with the Dutchman’s rule after so many defeats, so many abject performances.
Liverpool head into 2026 in a greater place, fourth within the league standings and with the possibility to create some respiration room between them and fifth-place Chelsea, who’re two factors behind and drew at house to Bournemouth on Tuesday night.
Defensively, a lot stays to be desired, and Liverpool are an damage to Virgil van Dijk or Ibrahima Konate away from turmoil. Cue the January switch window.
Liverpool able to signal a centre-back
Liverpool got here inside a whisker of signing Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi through the summer season switch window, however they might have a more durable job in convincing him to hitch on a free switch subsequent summer season, with Actual Madrid intensifying their curiosity.
Actually, any variety of elite suitors are lining up for the England worldwide, and with Liverpool in want of a brand new central defender now, it is maybe comprehensible that alternate options have been earmarked.
In accordance with Soccer Insider’s Mick Brown, Brighton star Jan Paul van Hecke is on that record, with the Dutchman having impressed over the previous a number of years on the south coast.
Van Hecke is embroiled in a contractual dispute together with his employers, and on condition that he is within the penultimate yr of his deal, FSG and sporting director Richard Hughes might pounce at any second, ought to they be given encouragement.
Tottenham Hotspur even have a vested curiosity within the 25-year-old, who’s valued at round £40m.
Why Van Hecke can be excellent for Liverpool
Brighton signed Van Hecke from NAC Breda in 2020, and after a string of elementary mortgage spells, he has turn into a set function of the Seagulls’ Premier League make-up, having featured 88 instances within the prime flight, scoring 4 objectives and supplying two assists.
To make certain, he nonetheless has enhancements to make, however data-driven website FBref state that Van Hecke shares a tactical likeness with Guehi, rating among the many prime 3% of positional friends within the division for progressive passes, the highest 1% for progressive carries and the highest 19% for ball recoveries per 90.
Furthermore, he is received a aim in him, having scored 3 times from 18 league outings this season.
With a surpassing technical skillset and a capability to impress throughout attacking and defensive metrics, Van Hecke might even emulate his compatriot Van Dijk at Liverpool.
Van Dijk is 34 years outdated, and Liverpool must signal a long-term substitute sooner quite than later. Van Hecke, together with his wealth of Premier League expertise and potential to make additional beneficial properties within the coming years, might be the proper addition, first studying the fruits of Van Dijk’s craft earlier than taking his place down the road.
In spite of everything, Van Hecke is a terrific defender too, with Sofascore recording that he has received a whopping 67% of his floor duels within the Premier League this season.
Liverpool have been undone a number of instances by set-pieces this season, and it is clear that recent high quality is required to stave off the most important menace to stability throughout the rearguard.
|
Most Set-piece Objectives Conceded 25/26 (Prime 5 Leagues) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Membership |
Video games |
Conceded |
|
Liverpool |
18 |
12 |
|
Bournemouth |
18 |
12 |
|
Nott’m Forest |
19 |
12 |
|
FC Koln |
15 |
11 |
|
West Ham |
18 |
11 |
|
Fiorentina |
17 |
10 |
|
Knowledge by way of ThisIsAnfield |
||
Is he the completed article? Certainly not, however Van Hecke has been hailed as a “positively loopy” defender by former striker Pierre van Hooijdonk, with a exceptional vitality and athleticism about his model that bespeaks his suitability for a membership like Liverpool.
There’s undoubtedly one thing Guehi-like about him, however Van Hecke might really turn into Liverpool’s best defender since Van Dijk by making the transfer to Merseyside.
The Dutchman shares extra than simply citizenship with Liverpool’s all-inspiring skipper. He’s good on the ball and monstrous within the air, the prototypical mould for a Premier League centre-back seeking to go to the highest.
Provided that Liverpool can be plucking him from the south coast too, Van Hecke would possibly simply have what it takes to turn into the Anfield aspect’s new model of the Netherlands legend.
Wanted greater than Semenyo: Liverpool main the race to signal £34m expertise
Liverpool are able to react to alternatives within the January switch window.
