Alex McCarthy vs Neil Etheridge: Who should Liverpool sign?

Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy and Cardiff City stopper Neil Etheridge have been linked with a transfer to Anfield, but who should Liverpool sign?

McCarthy is the latest rumour and the London Evening Standard have reported that he would be interested in a move to the Reds, while the Metro wrote that Merseyside chiefs were rumoured to be considering Etheridge as Simon Mignolet’s replacement.

Mignolet will be off in search of first team football and securing a back-up to Alisson Becker is important work. The new goalkeeper will have to be comfortable with the idea of being a second choice, but good enough to step up to the required level.

Ideally Jurgen Klopp would be able to keep Mignolet or even Loris Karius in that role, but neither of them would be content to just play second fiddle.

McCarthy or Etheridge would be, though. But who should Liverpool go for?

Alex McCarthy

As a starting point, the Saints man wouldn’t be giving up regular football in place of a Reds squad position. McCarthy was named their player of the season for 2017/2018, but lost his place to Angus Gunn and is open to the idea of an Anfield move.

Of course he is.

That means McCarthy could be a rare double threat: a player of proven Premier League quality, who doesn’t mind playing back-up to Allison.

Southampton would also be motivated to sell as they have Gunn, McCarthy and Fraser Forster competing for one place. Three first team players, one position. You just know they’re keen to move one of them off their wage books.

Neil Etheridge

Etheridge, too, would be available as Cardiff suffered relegation under Neil Warnock after their first season back in the big time.

The Philippines international has been a key part of the Bluebirds squad, but at 29-years-old he won’t get too many chances to join a side as good as Liverpool or play under a manager as good as Jurgen Klopp. Those are highly motivating factors to consider.

But with just one Premier League campaign under his belt, McCarthy has more top flight experience than Etheridge.

With both players motivated to join Liverpool, and both clubs motivated to sell it really has to come down to ability. And you’d have to pick McCarthy on that criteria.