Jamie Carragher and Don Hutchison gave their verdicts on Liverpool’s transfer business, with the former pointing a potential problem in the attack.
Liverpool ended the summer transfer window being the lowest spenders among the ‘Big Six’ clubs. All of their closest rivals spent big sums on player recruitment barring Everton, and many even urged Jurgen Klopp to make new signings to strengthen the squad.
However, Liverpool only signed Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig to shore up their backline, which faltered last season due to excessive injuries. Former defender Jamie Carragher pointed towards a potential problem in this Liverpool side, which could arise due to the upcoming AFCON.
Carragher said, “I’m disappointed Liverpool haven’t got an attacker in, I must say. I do think Liverpool are short in the attack, and they will have to keep everybody fit, which is nigh on impossible, really.”
“I do think they will struggle, but they’re very robust Liverpool’s front three. Mane and maybe Salah away for the Africa Cup of Nations at some stage, I’m not sure how many games they’ll miss, but I do think that was something to miss for Liverpool.”
Liverpool Summer Transfer Window Verdict 2021/22 | THT Opinions
From a different perspective, former Everton and Liverpool midfielder Don Hutchison questioned the club’s overall strategy during the window. The Merseysiders decided to hand improved deals to several first-team stars, and Hutchison has asked about this specific strategy.
Hutchison said, “There must be a plan that we are not aware of, looking from the outside in because there has to be a strategy. They cannot keep going with just signing all the boys that are there, who are brilliant, on new contracts.”
“There is a saying in football; if you are standing still, you are going backwards because everyone else is going forward. And I understand that you cannot replace [Mohamed] Salah because it will cost you £100m, and [Sadio] Mane and [Roberto] Firmino and [Diogo] Jota and all the guys that are brilliant.”
“But at some point, you would like to think there is going to be a strategy where they have got their eyes on; I don’t know, Harry Kane. They have got their eyes on Mbappe, or they have got their eyes on someone, it has to be….Haaland, there has to be a plan.”
Both those former stars have a point here, although right now, Liverpool have a strong enough squad tipped to challenge on all fronts. However, similar to last season, if an injury crisis is to break out, then Klopp might come to rue the decision to not sign players in the window.
