Inside Liverpool's summer so far - should fans be worried?
Liverpool's defensive frailties during their pre-season tour in the USA have raised concerns, with manager Andoni Iraola admitting the squad requires urgent reinforcements.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Liverpool conceded six goals in three USA matches, including four against Leeds.
- Defensive depth is severely tested due to injuries and key departures.
- PSG's Bradley Barcola emerges as the primary attacking target for the Reds.
- Curtis Jones is edging closer to a 35 million pound move to Inter Milan.
Andoni Iraola's verdict after Liverpool's 4-2 defeat to Leeds in Chicago on Sunday was telling, as the manager made it clear that a problem requiring a solution means the club desperately need reinforcements at the back.
Across three matches in the United States, Liverpool shipped six goals, with four of those coming against Leeds in the space of just 25 second-half minutes. The team started that fixture with a backline consisting of Jeremie Frimpong, Luke Chambers, Ifeanye Ndukwe, and Milos Kerkez, before finishing with Calvin Ramsay, Mor Talla Ndiaye, Ndukwe, and Kostas Tsimikas.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Four days earlier in New York, a similarly youthful defence kept a clean sheet against Wrexham and earned praise. However, against Premier League opposition like Leeds and proven striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Liverpool were brutally exposed. Kerkez remains the only expected starter from that backline for the upcoming season, while captain Virgil van Dijk is only just back in training.
With less than three weeks until the Premier League opener against Newcastle, Van Dijk will need a reliable partner at centre-half. Iraola faces mounting worries as neither Joe Gomez nor Giovanni Leoni are available, and new signing Jeremy Jacquet did not feature for a single minute during the tour as the club carefully manages his return to fitness.
The defensive crisis has been compounded by the departures of experienced defenders Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate. Relying on inexperienced prospects or players with a history of injuries like Joe Gomez will not provide a stable foundation for a team aiming to compete at the highest level of English football.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
In midfield, Liverpool possess solid options including Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, and Alexis Mac Allister. Both Szoboszlai and Gravenberch signed new contracts this year, while Curtis Jones is edging closer to a departure with Inter Milan eyeing a deal around the 35 million pound mark.
Up front, PSG's Bradley Barcola has become Liverpool's primary target after they missed out on signing Yan Diomande. While PSG value Barcola at 145 million pound, Liverpool are more inclined toward a 100 million pound valuation, with the player open to a move. Following Mohamed Salah's departure, 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha is expected to feature more prominently on the flanks.
Source: BBC Sport
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