Liverpool have focused their transfer efforts on filling midfield gaps over the summer, but the depth of Jurgen Klopp’s squad is already being tested.
After the departure of six players selected by Klopp last season, the Reds added four new players over the summer, all of whom were midfielders.
Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Roberto Firmino and James Milner left the team, while Dominic Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch represented the new players.
Liverpool’s every move, whether made or not, has been closely watched and this scrutiny has resulted in Liverpool missing out on opportunities to add new defenders.
What does the Reds’ depth look like for the 2023-24 season? Klopp previously said: “For me, the size of the squad is not that important. The quality of the squad is very important.”
This device is more versatile than shown in the picture above, but simplicity is everything in this case.
As we’ve seen in the first few games, if the defense is healthy and available, he’ll almost always end up picking himself.
The first choice defenders were Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson. They also have backup options like Joel Matip, Joe Gomez, Jarel Quansah and Kostas Tsimikas. The first three of these players have been used more than expected due to injuries and red cards, while the suitability of the last one for the new hybrid role remains a question.
The fans’ desire to see defensive acquisitions this summer was swiftly made clear by the inability to choose Konate and Van Dijk against Aston Villa, which was further exacerbated by Alexander-Arnold’s injury.
Although it is hoped that this would be remedied swiftly following the international break, Conor Bradley is expected to miss some time due to a stress injury, thus it only takes one blow to the No. 66 before Gomez is required at right-back.
We all remember the 2020–21 season, don’t we, when Klopp was put to the test defensively, thus the manager’s admission that Liverpool needs “luck with injuries” hit too close to home.
Liverpool shouldn’t be in the position where they still depend on good fortune, as that hasn’t always been the case. However, here we are.
