Arne Slot has added plenty to his Liverpool team this summer, but there are still questions as to whether the Reds boss will move for Marc Guehi or move to another centre-back
Arne Slot claims his Liverpool team has plenty of options for centre-backs, even if some of these players are not experts in the position. His comments came before Sunday’s Community Shield against Crystal Palace. There, Mark Guech can remind him of what he can offer the Reds.
Liverpool has rejected two bids for Guehi and there are no plans to return to a third for at least for now. However, the back options are quite limited from the outside.
They have three senior specialist centre backs – Virgil Vandic, Ibrahi Maconate and Joe Gomez, who is currently injured. Captain Van Dick signed a contract extension at Tail Exlot last season and kept him at the club until 2027, but Conate’s current deal will only run until the end of the current campaign.
During the preseason, Wataru End, Rien Graygun Bellch and Andy Robertson are filled with centre-backs, and Slots are confident in their abilities. “They can definitely play there and you’ve forgotten Joe Gomez,” the Dutch said.
“Unfortunately, he (Gomez) suffers minor injuries at the moment, but he’ll be back on the team soon. He’s really happy with the players we have and there are a lot of players who can play in that position.”
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These substitute centrebacks aren’t just players who can do multiple jobs at Anfield. New right-back Jeremy Fripon foresees him as an option when Mohamed Salah heads to the Africa Cup of Nations during the season, and slots foresee him.
“We definitely thought of AFCON, part of the reason he brought Frimon because he can play as a right fielder,” Slot told reporters. “It’s up to six games without MOs, but there’s a lot in the Premier League. Jeremy can play there, but he’s not the only option.”
Palace captain Guehi was also seen by Newcastle last summer, but the magpie moved to other targets such as Malik Chiau. Guehi is one of three centre-backs who started for Oliver Glasner’s side by beating Augsburg 3-1 last Friday and will be involved on Sunday.
The match has been the first time Palace has returned to Wembley since winning the FA Cup in May, with Guehi’s fellow centre-back Maxence Lacroix watching the game to relive the best. “This type of emotion… you don’t have it every day,” he told club media.
“It’s like time stops. I watched the game on YouTube and then looked at it again and they said, “No, I can’t. I’m going to win!”
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