Liverpool will be desperate to get back into contention for the Premier League title after a slow start in defending their crown. The current champions have lost 5 of their opening 11 games and are languishing in 8th place. Their dismal performance leaves them eight points behind leaders Arsenal, meaning they have a mountain to climb in the coming months.
It was a summer of change for Merseyside, with the Reds spending hundreds of millions of pounds in the transfer market. However, many of the new players have struggled against the likes of Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkes and Alexander Isak, and are yet to find their top form. For this reason, Arne Slot urgently needs to find a solution, but stopping the rot is easier said than done.
Express Sport looks at how Liverpool can get back to their glorious best.
Agreed double contract worth £160m
Liverpool could have another busy January and the Reds need more quality in certain areas. They could benefit from signing a top-class defensive midfielder, and Aurelien Choameni would be the right fit.
He has been admired by the Reds for years and will provide much-needed protection in front of the back four and help address the defensive vulnerabilities that have caused problems in recent months.
Real Madrid are unlikely to sell Choameni unless it’s really worth it, meaning they could need at least £100m to get a deal done.
Liverpool could also benefit from poaching Antoine Semenyo, who has a £60m release clause in his contract with Bournemouth. He is regarded as one of the best wingers in the Premier League and could be Mohamed Salah’s long-term successor.
Isak is on the bench, Ekitike is in the starting lineup.
Liverpool signed two prolific forwards in the summer, with Hugo Ekitike joining just before Isak signed his record-breaking deal.
However, despite his huge price tag, the Swedish forward has yet to prove why he should start ahead of his French colleague.
Ekitike looks like the better player and deserves to be Liverpool’s first-choice striker until Isak shows otherwise. While the latter should never be ignored, it would make sense for the Reds to continue with what has worked so far until the situation improves.
Isak hopes to be firing on all cylinders when he returns from injury, which could be against Nottingham Forest at the weekend.
Kerkes leaves after bad start
Liverpool’s new left-back endured a baptism of fire at Anfield, failing to prove why he should be considered better than Andy Robertson.
His worst moment was when he was substituted before half-time in Liverpool’s win over Burnley. Meanwhile, he was branded a “baby” by Gary Neville after the defeat to Chelsea.
The best option for Kerkes would be to take him out of action and bring Robertson back as the preferred option on the left.
The veteran Scot is a proven operator and deserves to regain his starting spot until Kerkes can be trusted to meet the required standards.
