Liverpool needs to strike back after Arsenal agreed a big $50m transfer, but the Reds have already identified a player who could re-establish them at the top.
Heading into the past two seasons, Liverpool has arguably boasted the best and most complete center-back depth in world football.
Alongside an all-time great inVirgil van Dijk, the Reds possessed one of the best young defensive talents around in Ibrahima Konaté, and one of the most underrated options out there in Joël Matip, who was a key contributor to the club’s 2019Champions Leaguetriumph.
Joe Gomez, it’s probably fair to say, was the weakest of the four because of his inconsistency, but at his best, he was at the very least a match for any English center-back.
In 2022/23, though, Konaté was the only player who truly delivered, and even then, he missed so much time thɾօυɢҺ ιɴjυɾу (around three months in total) that the failings of his understudies were exposed.
Matip looked like his own ιɴjυɾу problems had finally caught up with him as he struggled badly, while Gomez oscillated violently behind commanding performances and error-strewn nightmares.
Most notably, of course, Van Dijk, near-infallible for so long, suffered a sharp drop-off that gave his opponents newfound confidence.
In this context, you could argue that 22/23 runners upArsenalnow has the edge when it comes to center-halves.
Like Konaté, who may be his long-term partner in the France XI, William Saliba is on the road to becoming world-class, with many blaming Arsenal’s unraveling at the back єɴԀ of last season on his ιɴjυɾу-enforced absence.
Saliba, who’s just signed a new long-term Ԁєɑł after a magnificent first season, is the man Mikel Arteta will build around.
His other pieces include Gabriel, who does make occasional errors but is better than Gomez and Matip at this stage, Ben White, who spent most of last season at right-back but can also operate as the iԀєɑł modern center-half, and Jakub Kiwior, the $26m (£20m/€23m) 23-year-old who should be much more prominent in his second season.
Crucially, Arsenal is now adding Ajax’s Jurriën Timber to its ranks, having agreed a$49m (£39m/€45m)Ԁєɑł with the Dutch giant, as perSky Sports. Timber, the former Eredivisie player of the year, takes Arsenal’s backline up an additional level.
Right now, the Gunners look set to compete withManchester Cityin this department, though it’s unclear whatPep Guardiola’sroster will look like with Aymeric Laporte ‘almost certain’ to leave, according toThe Athletic.
Manchester City wants to signJoško Gvardiolfrom RB Leipzig (viaBBC Sport), which would furnish Guardiola with a peerless set of options, but it remains to be seen whether it can get a Ԁєɑł done.
Meanwhile, Liverpool will look to re-establish itself at the top of the list with the necessary addition of a new face, which could be Chelsea’sLevi Colwillif an opening arises (via David Lynch/The Redmen TV). With two midfielders added already, adding another defєɴԀer (to bolster its ranks, rather than simply to compete with Arsenal, though the two can happen at once) should be a priority.
Colwill, a key part of the England under-21 side that just won the European Championships without conceding a goal, is one of the best long-term additions the Reds could make, even if Chelsea is desperate to keep him. There are others out there as well that Liverpool is considering.
Regardless of who comes in, though, Liverpool must not get ahead of itself. By adding Timber, Kai Havertz and, most importantly, Declan Rice for a combined fee of more than $256m (£200m/€233m), Arsenal may have ensured its unexpected title challenge will be no flash in the pan.
Liverpool may naturally focus on City’s benchmark, but the first target must be leapfrogging Arteta’s men, who finished 17 points up the road last season.
If, and it’s a big if,Jürgen Kloppcan lift his team back into the battle for top spot, he’ll have to be wary of a new competitor.
