Former Liverpool midfielder Paul Ince has given his thoughts on the Red’s current state.
Ince was speaking to BoyleSports and offered some interesting opinions on Liverpool’s centre-back pairing, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s play and whether or not we will see a midfielder arrive before the transfer window closes.
With Ibrahima Konate and Joel Matip still out injured, Klopp has turned to the centre-back pairing of Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk. The duo hasn’t given supporters much reassurance that they can lock things down at the back and Ince has his doubts as well.
“Virgil van Dijk’s perfect partner in defense is Joel Matip,” Ince told BoyleSports. “As a manager you’re always trying to find the best partnership and van Dijk and Matip are just that for Liverpool.”
The pairing of van Dijk and Matip was a very successful one last year, and I fully expect the pairing to reunite soon as Matip is nearing his return from injury.
Ince also spoke on the recent play of Trent Alexander-Arnold.
“Trent is a world-class player and he’s shown that time and time again,” Ince said. “People sometimes question his defensive ability, but Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson are Liverpool’s sources of power and Erik ten Hag nullified them really well. He got it spot on.”
The former Liverpool midfielder did recognize the gaps in defense TAA is prone to leaving when he bombs forward.
“You only have to look at Liverpool’s game against Crystal Palace as well to know that, if you time your runs right, teams can get in behind Jurgen Klopp’s team very easily.”
The main concern for every Liverpool supporter right now is the lack of depth and quality in the midfield.
However, today Liverpool’s engine room fortunes have seemed to change; the club have made a deadline day move for Arthur from Juventus. [Sky Sports].
Ince is a man of the people and agreed with supporters that Liverpool’s current injury-plagued midfield won’t suffice: “You can’t rely on James Milner and Jordan Henderson to play all season.”
“I don’t know who is out there to bring in within the remainder of the transfer window. Liverpool’s recruitment over the last few years has been fantastic so I’m sure they have their eyes on a midfielder.”
All eyes will be on the Liverpool front office today as the transfer window closes at 11 p.m. BST (6 p.m. EST).