The Reds are heavy favourites to win the Premier League title, and it is going to be a shock in the event that they don’t raise the trophy come the top of the season. After all, nothing is assured and Liverpool’s squad isn’t good.
The most important weak spot for Arne Slot to take care of proper now’s an absence of power at left-back. For years, Liverpool had one of the best full-back partnership within the Premier League and arguably Europe with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson.
Whereas Alexander-Arnold continues to thrive, Robertson isn’t in a position to match the standard of his teammate. And his backup, Kostas Tsimikas additionally doesn’t deliver the extent Liverpool require at left-back. In consequence, Liverpool have been linked with a left-back within the January switch window. Antonee Robinson is the identify most-linked, after his tremendous begin to the Premier League season for .
However former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes the Reds might do with a extra versatile left-footed defender.
“Liverpool haven’t received a participant that each different membership has. It’s a left-sided defender who can play centre-back or left-back,” he mentioned on the podcast lately.
“Arsenal have (Riccardo) Calafiori, even (Manchester) United have (Lisandro) Martinez, Chelsea have gotten (Levi) Colwill, (Manchester) Metropolis have gotten Nathan Ake and (Josko Gvardiol) Gvardiol. Even Tottenham have (Micky) Van de Ven who can do some bit at left-back.
“I’ve mentioned this for a very long time, Liverpool want a left-sided defender who can do some little bit of each – stature, presence and a bit extra energy.
“If Liverpool signal that participant in January – I haven’t received any names and nothing’s been linked – however I believe if Liverpool did that, I’d make sure that they’d win the league.”
So, who might that be? We seemed throughout Europe’s prime seven leagues for potential names.
Piero Hincapie
Piero Hincapie has been an integral a part of Bayer Leverkusen’s defence below Xabi Alonso. The Ecuadorian defender principally performs as centre-back in a again three, on the left aspect. However, when Leverkusen do play a again 4, Hincapie has switched to the left.
Throughout all competitions this season, Hincapie has began six video games at left-back, together with Leverkusen’s previous two within the Champions League. It’s a place he additionally occupies for Ecuador at occasions, together with the whole lot of their Copa America 2024 marketing campaign.
Now, his inventive numbers are low within the Bundesliga and Champions League this season, at 0.35 possibilities created per 90 minutes. However clearly that’s as a result of he has principally been a centre-back. And on his flank is Alejandro Grimaldo, who could be very attack-minded.
Defensively, Hincapie has averaged 1.73 tackles per 90 within the Bundesliga and Champions League, alongside 1.92 possessions gained within the defensive third and a pair of.42 clearances. He’s additionally very dependable on the ball, finishing 90.48% of his passes whereas averaging 86.97 touches per 90. That type of passing can be very important for Liverpool who look to manage matches.
One other centre-back with left-back expertise is Valencia’s Yarek Gasiorowski. The Spanish defender got here by way of the academy at Valencia and has seen common enjoying time in current weeks — at the very least till Carlos Corberan changed Ruben Baraja.
The place Gasiorowski differs from Hincapie, although, is that he performs centre-back in a again 4. And his one left-back begin within the league this season got here towards Actual Madrid. So he was very a lot a centre-back being pushed out vast to assist double up on Rodrygo.
In consequence, Gasiorowski’s creation numbers are low. However he’s been very busy defensively, with 2.07 tackles per 90 in La Liga and 4.58 clearances. He’s additionally gained 1.96 possessions within the defensive third and a pair of.62 aerial duels, standing at 6’3″.
Alec van Hoorenbeeck
Alec van Hoorenbeeck is an fascinating one. From a switch perspective, he has 18 months left on his present take care of Twente, however does have an choice to increase by one 12 months.
He additionally has performed nearly all of his minutes at centre-back, with only a handful on the left for Twente. Van Hoorenbeeck did have extra expertise at left-back for KV Melchen earlier than becoming a member of Twente initially on mortgage final season, although.
The Belgian’s enjoying occasions hasn’t been too nice within the Eredivisie this season, with simply 594 minutes throughout 16 appearances. However in that point, Van Hoorenbeeck has averaged 6.36 clearances per 90 and a pair of.27 possessions gained within the defensive third. He’s additionally accomplished 90.91% of his passes, averaging a formidable 93.79 touches per 90.
David Hancko
David Hancko’s a reputation that has been linked with a Premier League transfer this month. Liverpool aren’t actually talked about within the conversations, however possibly they need to enter the race.
After all, Hancko has historical past with Slot, having performed for the Dutchman at Feyenoord — the place the defender stays. Once more most of his enjoying time for Feyenoord comes at centre-back, however there are a smattering of appearances at left-backs. And he virtually solely performs on the left for Slovakia.
Hancko has been dependable on the ball for Feyenoord this season, finishing 89.45% of his passes within the Eredivisie and Champions League. He’s additionally averaged 90.56 touches per 90 and 68.52 passes accomplished. Defensively, Hancko is nice at pushing up, with 2.2 possessions gained within the center third per 90, alongside 1.88 possessions gained within the defensive third.
