Although, barring a surprise and a major derailment, Liverpool FC will be the champions of the Premier League, the setback suffered in the Champions League has made the English team rethink many things ahead of the summer transfer window. Given the growing interest in several of their players, Slot’s men want to strengthen the squad to improve and anticipate possible departures.
A hard blow in the Champions League
Liverpool started as clear favorites in this edition of the Champions League, but nevertheless fell in the round of 16. Paris Saint-Germain, far superior to Liverpool in the overall tie, forced extra time at Anfield (0-1) thanks to a goal from Dembélé… and went into the quarterfinals thanks to Donnarumma’s hand. The goalkeeper saved two penalties in an epic finale to level the tie against Aston Villa for Luis Enrique’s side.
The coach of Liverpool, Arne Slot, expressed his disbelief after the club’s elimination from the Champions League. “It was the best game of football I’ve ever been a part of. It was an incredible performance, especially when compared to last week. We were creating chances and then we went 1-0 down. Our luck ran out after last week.” ”We felt we deserved more than to be losing 1-0. We played a perfect game, except for scoring a goal. It was similar to what happened in Paris last week, when they played a perfect game. And then, in extra time, they were maybe a little better.”
Bad week also in the Carabao Cup
The black week with the Champions League elimination did not end there. Just a few days after Paris Saint-Germain knocked out the unbeatable group stage winners in an agonizing penalty shootout at Anfield, Liverpool lost the Carabao Cup final to Newcastle (1-2). Neither the Champions League nor the League Cup in six days.
Liverpool, with an inconsequential Mohamed Salah for whom social networks were filled with criticism for having ‘gone missing’ at the crucial moment of the season, only reacted in added time with a goal from Federico Chiesa. “It must be Liverpool’s worst performance in a major final since 1988,” wrote James Pearce, journalist for The Athletic.
An XXL center back to turn things around
What looked like it was going to be an outstanding season may end up being just a good one as the Premier League, with a 12-point lead over Arsenal, does not look like it is going to slip away. But the truth is that in recent days, in the face of two disappointments, several players have been singled out. In addition, there are some whose future has not been resolved and who have powerful suitors on the market, as is the case with Virgil van Dijk.
His possible departure, like that of Konaté to Real Madrid, has already got Liverpool working on finding a worthy successor. Immersed in the search for a new fully-guaranteed marshal, the candidacy that leads to Marc Guéhi (24 years old) stands out.
He is a defender who is one of the mainstays of Crystal Palace. At Anfield they are confident of beating Chelsea and Newcastle United to the summer bid for this player. Also watched by Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, the Eagles have valued their central defender at around €80 million. It’s time to pull out the checkbook to sign the player.