Liverpool have a exceptional aversion to confidently defending Premier League titles. This season and in 2021/22, the Reds have discovered themselves on a sticky wicket after reaching the highest, and Arne Slot has to seek out the solutions rapidly.
In equity, the countless rut the membership have discovered themselves on this season seems to have abated. Liverpool have gone 4 video games with out defeat, although it could merely be incorrect to recommend that they’re again to their finest.
With Mohamed Salah‘s unsure future rumbling within the background, FSG are prepared to strengthen the struggling champions with a winter recruit or two.
But it surely is likely to be on the again, and never in assault, that Liverpool have to prioritise.
Liverpool able to signal a centre-back
Ibrahima Konate is out of contract on the finish of the season, and there’s nonetheless no decision in sight. Actual Madrid have ended their curiosity within the French centre-back, although, such has been the severity of his dismal season.
Errors have come by the dozen. Couple that with Konate’s weak point within the build-up, uncovered by Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure, and you’ll see that Liverpool desperately want a brand new elite accomplice to assist the ageing Virgil van Dijk.
Final summer season, Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi was the chosen man, and now, sporting director Richard Hughes is able to return for him.
In accordance with TEAMtalk, Liverpool stay in pole place for the Three Lions star, with FSG assured {that a} deal may be struck, contemplating that private phrases have already been agreed and the participant is alleged to nonetheless view Anfield as his most popular vacation spot.
Nonetheless, Bayern Munich are pushing, and so if the Reds wish to keep away from any doubts earlier than Guehi’s contract expires on the finish of the season, they have to bid round £20m to deliver him over subsequent month.
Nonetheless, Liverpool’s defensive disaster means that which may not be the worst concept on the earth.
Why Liverpool should signal Guehi in January
Guehi, 25, is without doubt one of the finest centre-backs in Europe. Over 4 years since leaving Chelsea and becoming a member of Crystal Palace, he has established himself as “an absolute Rolls Royce of a defender” who’s “world-class calibre”, as put by academy coach David Matthews.
The England star is simply now coming into his personal, stretching towards a extensively recognised elite standing. Liverpool should be certain that they safe his providers earlier than another person does, particularly because it might revive Van Dijk.
There isn’t any denying that the Netherlands captain has been poor this season, missing his typical authority and imperiousness on the again.
However then Liverpool’s dysfunctional system has promoted inconsistency, and Guehi might show the improve on Konate wanted to rekindle Van Dijk’s flame.
The Eagles star’s ball-playing recreation is extra expansive and dynamic than Konate’s personal, and alongside the 34-year-old Van Dijk, he would assist create a greater diversity of passing patterns than Liverpool followers have been handled to this yr.
Taking a look at how Guehi compares to Konate within the Premier League this season, you may see that the Englishman has extra high quality on the ball whereas additionally proving extra combative and cellular in defending his backline. Palace, bear in mind, have solely conceded 12 targets within the league this season, a complete bettered solely by Arsenal.
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Premier League 24/25 – Guehi vs Konate |
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|---|---|---|
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Stats (per 90) |
||
|
Objectives scored |
0.14 |
0.00 |
|
Assists |
0.14 |
0.00 |
|
Touches |
62.50 |
78.88 |
|
Go completion (%) |
85.4 |
89.5 |
|
Progressive passes |
5.21 |
4.26 |
|
Shot-creating actions |
1.64 |
0.72 |
|
Progressive carries |
1.21 |
1.16 |
|
Ball recoveries |
4.00 |
2.96 |
|
Tackles + interceptions |
3.00 |
2.24 |
|
Clearances |
5.14 |
6.86 |
|
Aerial duels gained |
2.86 |
3.96 |
|
Errors |
0.07 |
0.22 |
|
Knowledge through FBref |
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Neglect all of the technical frills for a second; Guehi is kind of merely rather more composed on the ball than his Les Bleus counterpart, who has made so many errors this season.
Couple that along with his progressiveness and intelligence when making ahead passes, Guehi may very well be the right accomplice for the veteran skipper, who remains to be among the finest centre-halves within the enterprise however is getting on a bit and will do with a steady accomplice who enhances his strengths and provides synergy to the broader tactical system.
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