Ex-Liverpool midfielder Graeme Souness says there is still one area of the Reds’ squad that needs to be improved.
The lack of a top-class holding midfield player is a concern for Souness, who claims that manager Jurgen Klopp wouldn’t have approved a £110m bid for Moises Caicedo if he didn’t think that position was that important:
“The fact they offered over £100m for Caicedo tells you he [Klopp] sees that area as it needs strengthening. The way I see Liverpool right now is they have enough goals in the team, the defence is more than good enough, the keeper is more than good enough but the blend he is going to have to use in midfield is not quite right.”
After losing out on Caicedo to Chelsea, the Merseyside club did recruit Wataru Endo from Stuttgart, but Souness says the Japanese international is more likely to be a “squad player” who can come in and do a job when required.
Gravenberch’s role in Liverpool’s team
Souness doesn’t mention Ryan Gravenberch but there have been suggestions that the deadline-day signing from Bayern Munich could be deployed in the No.6 role.
Whether that will in fact happen, it is up for debate. The 21-year-old did play the position on a number of occasions for Ajax, but you do question whether he possesses the skill set to play there in the Premier League.
It could be the Reds’ Achilles Heel if they want to challenge for trophies
As Souness points out, Liverpool’s squad does look good enough in most areas of the pitch. Especially in terms of forwards, they have the firepower to outscore most opponents.
However, the absence of a truly top-notch holding midfielder could hold them back if they want to mount a serious challenge for the Premier League title this campaign.
