Outcomes panned out in Liverpool’s favour final weekend, with the Reds incomes a dramatic late victory at Brentford earlier than Arsenal blew a two-goal lead at residence towards Aston Villa.
It feels vital. Liverpool are actually six factors clear on the high of the Premier League having performed a recreation lower than their rivals. It felt for all of the world that Arne Slot’s facet have been stumbling towards their third successive top-flight draw till Darwin Nunez fired two last-gasp strikes previous the hitherto imperious Mark Flekken.
Liverpool might want to strike a extra constant chord over the approaching months – had Nunez did not convert, Liverpool would have drawn 5 of eight current Premier League video games – however there isn’t any disputing that their grip on the high of the desk is tight and the lay of the wind up forward is what many would name ‘winnable’.
Liverpool – Upcoming Fixtures (all comps) | ||
---|---|---|
Date | Competitors | Opponent |
21/01/25 | Champions League | Lille (H) |
25/01/25 | Premier League | Ipswich (H) |
29/01/25 | Champions League | PSV (A) |
01/02/25 | Premier League | Bournemouth (A) |
06/02/25 | Carabao Cup | Tottenham (H) |
The Merseysiders are in with a shout throughout each doable street this time period and have a gifted and balanced squad. Nevertheless, there’s been a furore amongst fan circles for recent high quality, particularly on the again.
Why Liverpool could not strengthen in January
FSG aren’t precisely identified for being rash within the switch market, and it is onerous to think about that sporting director Richard Hughes might be prioritising hopeful signings when a darker nimbus looms over Merseyside.
All quiet on the contractual entrance. The Athletic’s David Ornstein revealed over a month in the past that Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have been provided new offers, however we’re nonetheless missing a decision with each gamers a number of weeks previous being free to barter with suitors from abroad.
Trent Alexander-Arnold can be approaching the top of an illustrious Liverpool profession, with the boyhood Crimson being targetted by none aside from Actual Madrid.
That is to not say that these advanced quandaries are detracting from the prudent planning that has largely been a press release of the FSG period. Liverpool have a bunch of points to repair, however Hughes appears set on finishing Liverpool’s midfield.
Liverpool chasing new midfielder
In response to Soccer Insider, Liverpool are plotting forward of the summer season switch window and have set their sights on Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Joao Gomes.
Gomes, who’s valued at £50m, has been one of many central pillars of the Previous Gold system this 12 months however has nonetheless discovered himself embroiled in a relegation battle, one thing Liverpool will reap the benefits of ought to the axe be swung come Could.
Seventeenth-placed Wolves will you’ll want to drive a tough cut price, however Liverpool may do with a distinct sort of anchor to behave as Ryan Gravenberch’s foil, and Gomes could possibly be the right man for the job.
Why Liverpool need Joao Gomes
Gravenberch is a superb participant, however the Dutchman has began each single one in every of Liverpool’s Premier League and European fixtures this season and will do with some competitors. Wataru Endo is a strong second-half choice however lacks within the ball-playing division.
Premier League 24/25 – Joao Gomes vs Ryan Gravenberch | ||
---|---|---|
Match Stats* | Gomes | Gravenberch |
Matches (begins) | 20 (20) | 21 (21) |
Targets | 2 | 0 |
Assists | 1 | 2 |
Touches* | 57.4 | 70.1 |
Go completion | 85% | 89% |
Key passes* | 0.6 | 0.9 |
Dribble (success)* | 0.7 (62%) | 1.0 (59%) |
Ball recoveries* | 5.4 | 5.1 |
Tackles + interceptions* | 4.0 | 3.7 |
Floor duels (gained)* | 4.7 (44%) | 4.2 (56%) |
Stats by way of Sofascore (* = per recreation) |
Liverpool have not fairly had the rub of the inexperienced with accidents this season however they have not suffered as drastically as a number of the catastrophic crises underneath Jurgen Klopp, permitting them to remain forward of Arsenal.
Switch Focus
Mega cash offers, controversial strikes and big-name flops. That is the house of switch information and opinion throughout Soccer FanCast.
Nevertheless, dropping a participant like Gravenberch would absolutely be to the detriment of Slot’s title cost, and whereas Wolves aren’t prone to do enterprise this month, FSG should recognise that the damage entrance will not at all times be so sort and measures have to be put in place forward of the 2025/26 season.
Gomes could possibly be the “warrior” that Liverpool want, as he has been described by expertise scout Jacek Kulig, bringing an ideal robustness to the centre of the park.
Warrior-type qualities are essential for a quantity six, or certainly a multi-functioning powerhouse of a midfielder, and it is one thing that former Reds star Fabinho was identified for, hailed as such by Liverpool author Ben Webb.
Given Gomes’ Brazilian heritage, he may form into Anfield’s subsequent model of Klopp’s anchor power, who joined from Monaco for a £44m charge in 2018 and went on to finish 219 appearances for the Reds, lifting virtually each main trophy accessible.
Whereas Fabinho is a deeper-sitting, much less cell model than his ageing countryman, who now plies his commerce in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ittihad, Gomes may nonetheless work a deal with as a successor of kinds, his vitality and athletic type higher catered to Slot’s system.
Furthermore, Gomes can be arriving at Merseyside at the same level in his profession, Fabinho being 24 when he arrived, the identical as Gomes might be ought to he switch this summer season.
With out query, Liverpool might want to bolster within the center to ease the workload on Gravenberch’s shoulders. Shifting to signal Gomes may be the best way to go, persevering with the Brazilian connection that has labored so effectively over the previous a number of years and making certain that Slot’s fantastic techniques are bolstered by a framework that may promote his imaginative and prescient and permit it to maintain itself.
Associated
Liverpool now need “astonishing” ahead to switch Salah; Slot loves him
The Reds are eyeing an attacker who performs for one in every of Europe’s high golf equipment.