It is no secret that Liverpool wanted to be busier in the transfer window than what they were. Just two signings in Arne Slot’s opening summer window and one of them doesn’t join up with the squad until at least next summer.
The two recruits, Federico Chiesa and Giorgi Mamardashvili, are extremely savvy business and represent the Liverpool transfer buzzword of the summer, opportunistic.
Chiesa is clearly over the moon to be a Red and Mamardashvili, if reports are to be believed, the same.
However, going into the summer it felt as though there were several other positions that were more important than the future No. 1 and another attacking option.
Left-Back, Defensive Midfield (DM) and Centre-Back all felt like much more pressing issues Richard Hughes, Michael Edwards and Arne Slot had to address.
The Martín Zubimendi saga was a clear indicator that Liverpool were in the market for a DM but when the pursuit failed, reports came out that it was Zubimendi or no one. Maybe not the best planning but they moved on and so did everyone.
With all that said, Liverpool still has an extremely strong squad, with some players who have benefited from the lack of movement in the market from the Reds.
Ryan Gravenberch
The man who has been trusted in that DM role and is the man who has, so far, impressed in that position.
When the Dutchman joined LFC in the summer of 2023 from Bayern Munich it was no secret that there was some unbelievable talent in him, his size, technical ability and versatility in the midfield all contributed to Jurgen Klopp making him his last ever Liverpool signing.
With this trust instilled in him, he must go and make this position his. It could be a stroke of genius from Arne to convert Ryan into a DM and could save Liverpool a lot of money in the long-term.
It won’t be easy for Ryan, and it won’t be smooth either, but he and we must believe in him and with the attributes he already has and some fine tuning from Arne and his staff I do not see why Ryan Gravenberch can’t become Liverpool’s next great midfield dynamo.
Jarell Quansah
In my opinion, a Centre-Back was more important for Liverpool this summer than what a DM was as the club are lacking quality depth and potentially a left-footed option.
With rumours flying around and none coming to fruition, the young Warrington native has to grab this opportunity by the scruff of the neck, much like he did last year, only this time he will play more, and higher quality performances will be asked of him.
At the moment it seems as though Jarell is 3rd choice behind Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk. Only Joe Gomez is a viable and first team option behind him in the squad.
The potential is there for everyone to see with Quansah, it was no fluke that he was so close to being in the England Euro 2024 squad.
Jarell has to step up and show why Liverpool do not need to look for a Virgil van Dijk successor, when they already have him in the building, and this season could prove to be pivotal for LFC and Jarell Quansah.
Andy Robertson
The final player is an established and beloved member of the team, but with more time spent on the sidelines and rumours flying around about replacements, the time has come for the Scotland captain to show his new boss that Liverpool is ok at left-back for at least another couple years.
Rayan Ait-Nouri was a rumored target for the Reds this summer and could have been a sign that the new regime wanted a younger player, who was their man at left-back.
On the other hand, a lack of consistent links to left-back signings again could be the sign of an instillation of trust into Robertson.
Robbo will be the first person to say that his past couple of seasons have not been up to the previous standards he has set.
The Scot regularly came under fire for his inconsistency and many people believed it was time to find a replacement.
With no business done at this position it is time for Andy to regain the levels he was at under Jurgen Klopp and reinstate himself atop the left-backs in the world.