Replacing this ‘Fighting’ Liverpool star is the priority in January

In the wake of Liverpool’s deserved 2-2 draw away to fellow title challengers Arsenal comes the dissection of what went wrong and what needs to be done to ensure any issues are resolved. It took just nine minutes for Arsenal to take the lead at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon when their returning England superstar Bukayo Saka turned the tables on Scotland captain Andy Robertson to score a superb opener.

For the past two summers (and under two completely different regimes) on Merseyside, there has been talk of Liverpool signing a hybrid left-sided defender to operate on the outside of the Reds’ defence. In the warmer months of 2023, there were constant links to up-and-coming Chelsea star Levi Colwill, who had just returned to his parent club after a brilliant season-long loan at Brighton.

The England international defender was a clear target for the recruitment team at Anfield and until the moment he negotiated a better deal (to remain at Stamford Bridge) it looked like the England Under-21 European Champion would join his fellow winner of tournament, Curtis Jones, at Anfield.

Unfortunately for the then sporting director, Jörg Schmadtke, that deal did not materialize and it would be Joe Gomez who became the operating left-back, enjoying the best form last season. It should also be noted that there were tentative links to Micky van de Ven before he himself signed for Tottenham Hotspur last year.

This past summer of 2024, new Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes appeared to be linked with a host of similar assets. The exciting names of Gonçalo Inácio, Castello Lukeba, Alessandro Bastoni, Piero Hincapié, Willian Pacho and Jarrad Branthwaite were all similar recruitment options who are left-footed and could offer a more physically powerful unit capable of operating at either left-back, as well as in a back three in transition.

This is the type of endeavor that has seen both Nathan Aké and Joško Gvardiol flourish for 115-times-laden Etihad giants Manchester City. Unfortunately, for the expectant fanbase at LFC, none of these links materialized and the 2023/24 season was completed with Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas as the starting left-back options for new Liverpool manager Arne Slot.

Is a new left-back the first priority for Richard Hughes?

In addition to the need to get certain people signed to new and extended contracts, the signing of new assets must also be considered a high priority within the offices of the AXA Training Centre.

Given the emergence of Ryan Gravenberch and the stable of viable alternatives to play the infamous No.6 position, I suspect that after another suspect performance (by Robbo) at the Emirates on Sunday, all recruitment managers and indeed the new head coach will meet this week to confirm their desire to sign a new left-sided defender in January.

I’ve written several articles over the past two years stating the need to upgrade that specific area of ​​the side, mainly as it became clear that club vice-captain Trent Alexander Arnold would be given more freedom as the team’s primary playmaker. . The landscape of modern football is evolving to see the common back-four (in Europe) become a more flexible back-three (in possession), allowing one of the full-backs to move forward and into midfield.

This initiative was taken at the end of the 2022/23 season (by former Liverpool manager, Jürgen Klopp), but despite the initial boost (which energized a tired Liverpool squad), the following campaign produced repeated error in transition. As I reviewed the Reds on the ball form yesterday, I often saw a back three back screen emerge, housing the 6ft 4in presence of Ibrahima Konaté on the right, the towering 6ft 4in skipper, Virgil, van Dijk, in the center area, while the left hand of this trio was occupied by the 5 foot 10 inch back, Andy Robertson.

It is in no way my intention to tarnish the reputation of a legendary figure, just an attempt to state the obvious limitations. In the end, it is the 30-year-old’s slight physical frame, weakened positional sense of the back force and lack of defensive ability that struggle to translate into what is needed under a new management.

After a career approaching 600 senior appearances, the former Hull player’s best game is now deep in the rearview mirror and even his most beloved supporter and former manager Jürgen Klopp saw the writing on the Anfield wall as he tried to regenerate the same way he did with his former captain, Jordan Henderson.

Who could Liverpool target in the winter months?

I suspect the long list of targets will be narrowed down in the coming weeks and as we enter the final two months before the next transfer window, the tentative inquiries will become firm approaches for players they believe can help a genuine title challenge. Although 78-cap Scotland star Robertson could still function as a valued squad member, the list below should be seen as starting caliber players who would add solidity.

Gonçalo Inácio – Sporting Lisbon

Castello Lukeba – RB Leipzig

Piero Hincapié – Bayer Leverkusen

Jarrad Branthwaite – Everton

Each of these players would cost upwards of £50m. and immediately offer a physique and security in the desired left back position. Each listed player possesses slightly different fundamentals, but both the analytical team and former Feyenoord manager Arne Slot will surely have carried out a thorough inspection of what is most needed to thrive in the second half of the season.

With Liverpool just a point behind league leaders Manchester City, in addition to being four points ahead of north London giants Arsenal, year one of Liverpool’s new ventures could well be a glorious chase for the ultimate success of the leases. There are two needs that cannot be let down once again, and so after the transfer disappointment of August this year, I suspect the club will ensure that the coming winter months are more prosperous. The priority must now be to sign a left-sided defender, followed shortly by a specialist defensive midfielder.