Liverpool Can’t Become Complacent Ahead Of January Transfer Window

Liverpool FC went into the World Cup break on a high with four wins from four games in three different competitions, but the problems they had earlier in this campaign showed signs they might hang around if action is not taken in the next transfer window.

Early in November, Liverpool managed to reverse the defeat they suffered against Napoli in the opening round of this season’s Champions League group stage—a performance manager Jürgen Klopp described as one of the worst of his tenure—by defeating the Italian league leaders 2-0 at Anfield. They progressed to the knockout stages of Europe’s premier continental competition, where they will face Real Madrid in the last 16.

A potentially tough trip to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League came next, with Klopp’s side walking away with a 2-1 win. This was followed by a young Liverpool lineup securing a result on penalties against Derby County in the Carabao Cup.

Liverpool are the defending champions in that particular cup competition, but it is still very much the lowest priority tournament for top level English clubs, hence Klopp’s inexperienced lineup. Still, they managed a morale-boosting penalty shootout win, with backup goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher impressing, as he often has in such situations.

Kelleher’s six penalty saves in shootouts is a club record, as is his four penalty shootout wins. It was a feelgood win for the players in the youth academy and those on the fringes of the squad.

Their final game before the break for the World Cup was another positive result, and two goals from Darwin Nunez plus another from Roberto Firmino meant the strikers, who have been questioned for different reasons in recent months, were able to silence a few critics.

Importantly, it also meant Liverpool went into this long mid-season break on a high, with four wins under their belt and progress in each of the two cup competitions they have entered so far.

Despite this, some of the warning signs that this squad may not be strong enough to challenge for top honors were still evident during this run.

Southampton were able to create a few big chances in that 3-1 Liverpool win which book-ended this particular section of the season. The team had to rely on goalkeeper Alisson to make some impressive saves.

Alisson has been Liverpool’s best player in the early part of the season, which is not a good thing for a side who would prefer their goalkeeper to be less busy.

Alisson has always been impressive for the club, and has made key saves at key times in the past, but this season he has had to do so a little too regularly for Liverpool’s liking. This is partly due to defensive failures in front of him.

Liverpool have strong center-back depth, but a couple of injuries to Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate have left them with a pairing of Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk. Both have had poor games at times this season, and while Van Dijk can still look like one of the best defenders around even on an off day, Gomez has struggled on occasions.

But the bigger issue is in front of that defense. Quality midfield depth was identified as a problem in the summer, and the club eventually agreed, bringing in Brazilian midfielder Arthur on loan from Juventus at the end of the transfer window.

However, Arthur soon picked up an injury which he is not likely to recover from until early next year, and the club were back to square one, perhaps paying the price for moving so late in the transfer window as they had done in January 2021 during a defensive injury crisis.

The positive might be that it leaves Liverpool with a clear idea of where they need to improve.

Rebuilding an entire area of the squad can be trickier than it is often made out in a world where fantasy football and football manager games make the trading of players appear easy, but Liverpool should at least be able to sign one or two reinforcements in this area who will eventually become part of any future rebuild.

In recent years, the club’s owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) have added reinforcements in defense and in attack, but the middle of the pitch is ageing and often injury prone.

With FSG having reportedly put the club up for sale, retaining its current value will mean remaining in lucrative competitions such as the Champions League, and having a team which can challenge for honors.

It appears one or two signings will be needed in January in order to keep this up, and with a transfer window that is effectively extended due to the World Cup, they have plenty of time to work on this issue. It would be a mistake to become complacent.