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Daily Liverpool - Assessing the Reds' Defence.
24 Plays9 days ago
It's the international break so Jesse Sarwar runs the rule over Liverpool's defence. Which players have performed, which ones need to improve and who could we see leave Anfield at the end of the season?
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Transcript
00:00:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
Podcast Introduction and Current Context
00:01:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Daily Liverpool podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. Well, it's the Monday review show, well, it should be, but obviously there is no game to review.
00:01:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
We are smack in the middle middle of the international break. So Liverpool players are all over the world turning out for their respective national teams. Although a few have already come back with injuries,
00:01:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
They don't sound too serious, so fingers crossed they will be back um fit and firing for the resumption of the Premier League. um So what are we going to do today um in the absence of any Premier League action?
00:02:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're going to take a look at our squad this week. We're going to look at the back line, the defensive unit.
Media Perception vs. Liverpool's Reality
00:02:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah We're going to assess the midfield um part of the team and, of course, the forward line.
00:02:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're going to look at the ah the players that we've got when their contracts are up, which is, I suppose that's really pertinent ah for Liverpool fans, bearing in mind the three big players um whose contracts are up at the end of the season. So we're going to have a look at the contract situations of all of our players and really just kind of assess How those players are doing?
00:02:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Do we need to upgrade? And where in that squad do we need to strengthen? um Bearing in mind what's happened this season and ah word on what's happened this season.
00:03:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's been a lot of talk in the media about Liverpool's season you know falling apart because we were knocked out of the Champions League by PSG in the round of 16 on the Tuesday. And then on the Sunday, we lost the League Cup final against Newcastle.
00:03:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, all credit to Newcastle. They thoroughly deserved that cup win. They were the better team on the day. um They just had more energy about them.
00:03:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, they were deserved winners. But the idea that Liverpool's season has fallen apart um because we we lost in the in a final against ah a team that just played better than us.
00:03:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that we were knocked out of the Champions League by fantastic PSG side. ah which still leaves us 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League. The idea that that is somehow some kind of a disastrous season or not as good as it should have been, i think it's ridiculous.
00:04:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I just love how the narrative just flips from week to week, month to month. At the start of the season, most of those ah pundits in the media, most of those kind of um YouTube talking heads, opposition fans, were all kind of saying, Liverpool, there's no way we're going
Arnie Slott's Impact and Future Outlook
00:04:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
to win the league. There's no way we're going to challenge for the league.
00:04:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
the The most that we can hope for is to get into that top four and to try and secure Champions League football. And the idea that from that to where we are now, we're we're on the verge of winning the Premier League, but that still is a bad season, I think is just, um I think it's just ridiculous.
00:05:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I think that we've had a very, very good season. I think we've had an outstanding season and Arnie Slott has had an outstanding first season. However,
00:05:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I think it's clear to to to see that this is a work in progress and that the the kind of drop-off that was expected for this Liverpool team post-Jürgen Klopp, I think that challenge is for next season.
00:05:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think the kind of reset and and kind of ah re-tinkering of this team is going to be next season um because that's the season where I think Arnie Slott is going to ah put a mark on this team in terms of the signings.
00:06:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
All these signings, all the players that he works with, apart from Federico Chiesa, are Jurgen Klopp signings. And so this coming transfer window in the summer, I think next season you're going to see much more of an Arnie slot team um in the making because it can't be all done in one transfer window.
Liverpool's Defensive Unit: Current State and Future Needs
00:06:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But this summer transfer window... I think is gearing up to be, i think a bigger transfer window than i think any of us expected, possibly at the start of the season or even midway through the season.
00:06:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that the way that the season has gone, i think the way that the contract situations have developed, it it just feels like we're on the cusp of something really big.
00:06:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And that the turnover of players in that coming summer transfer window could be much, much bigger than any of us expected um at the start of the season.
00:07:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
So what we're going to do then is let's start off with the defensive unit and assess that defensive unit and see whether we need to bring players in, whether players are going to leave.
00:07:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Clearly there there is a risk of that. um And just what kind of transfer activity the club may need to do um in order to kind of mitigate any kind of departures and So let's start at the very back um with the goalkeepers.
00:07:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Alison Becker um currently on duty with Brazil. In fact, no, he actually came back um after what looked like to quite a nasty kind of head collision, um ah suspected concussion.
00:08:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
in ah in a game against Colombia. Luis Diaz actually scored in that in that game. um And so he's come home early. um All signs that that was a precautionary ah decision. So um I don't think there's any kind of long-term um concern there.
00:08:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Alisson was brought in in 2018 for £65 million. And that was... ah sixty five million pounds and that was a world record fee for a goalkeeper at that time. And and that was a record that stood for some 16, 17 years um um after Juventus had smashed the record um to to sign Buffon all the way back in 2001.
00:08:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
um they signed him from Palmer. And, you know, he was the best goalkeeper in the world at that time, one of the greats. And I think that we've got the best goalkeeper in the world with um Alison Becker and that 65 million pounds,
00:09:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Although it did raise eyebrows, I think any any kind of fee like that for a goalkeeper, i think he's always going to um ah raise eyebrows. But I think that that was one of the most significant signings that Liverpool Football Club have made in in their modern history.
00:09:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Absolute rock in that back line. um He's been worth every penny that we paid. um He marshals that back line. He's got the respect of that back four.
00:09:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And he's... he's a very tidy goalkeeper. um Sounds strange to say for, um ah for a goalkeeper that's cost 65 million pounds, but I think the greatness of, of Alison lies in his efficiency.
00:10:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's not a Jordan Pickford. um he's He's not going to dive around for the cameras. um If he can tip the ball over the bar and stay on his feet, he'll do that.
00:10:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
He'll just tip the ball over the bar and he'll stay on his feet. um ah Jordan Pickford will tip the ball ball over the bar and he can get back on onto his feet. He can land on his feet as well, but he won't.
00:10:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
He'll do a triple back somersault and, you know, wave at the cameras. And that is not Alison's style. Alison's style is all about efficiency and stability.
00:10:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, he he keeps that back line stable. He's not erratic. When he comes out, um he either catches the ball nine times out of 10 or he clears and he really does clear the ball.
00:10:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Even when there's a shot that is, you know, a good shot by the striker across the face of goal, which strikers are meant to do, he won't parry the ball into the six yard area.
00:11:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
He'll get a really strong hand or a strong wrist or a strong forearm and really just kind of batter the ball outside of the danger area. And um I just think he's been a ah fantastic signing for Liverpool.
00:11:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, he's his honours just reflect that. um UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year 2019, Best FIFA Football Awards 2019, Goalkeeper the Year, Premier League Golden Gloves winner 2019, 2022, Champions League winner 2019, FIFA Club World Cup winner 2019,
00:11:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
premierly golden gloves winner two thousand and nineteen ah two thousand and twenty two champions league winner twenty nineteen fifa club woke up winner twenty nineteen Premier League winner 2019-2020.
00:11:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Looks like it's going to be 24-25 as well. And a League Cup winner and an FA Cup winner in 2022. Total games, total clean sheets. And let's forget,
00:12:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
games ninety five clean sheets in the premier league hundred and twenty four total clean she and and let's not forget
00:12:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
His sir debut goal was on the 16th of May 2021. Who can forget forget that goal? um A fantastic ah header against um West Brom, I think it was, you know, late in that game, which I think gave us the impetus to qualify for the Champions League in that season.
00:12:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So um he's been ah an absolutely fantastic signing for us. There have been question marks over his um his injury record, which is is fair.
00:12:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
um He's the kind of goalkeeper that does tends to get these muscle injuries, which is a concern. And, um you know, he's 32. He's 32.
00:13:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I suppose, um you know, that that is going to be a concern, um ah you know, going forward. But I think that, you know, he's been um he's been a fantastic signing for us.
00:13:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
His contract expires 2027. um twenty twenty seven So once we complete this season, he will be in his final season. And I think that's really significant.
00:13:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've got Marmadashvili coming ah to the club um from Valencia, which I think could... I think could it could spell a departure ah departure of sorts, whether it's Alisson, I sincerely hope not, um or whether it's Kelleher, which I think is more likely.
00:13:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But I think that's a significant signing for Liverpool. But I do think that Alisson Becker... I think needs to to stay at Liverpool.
00:14:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And I would like to see the club um extend his contract, but we know how FSG work. um We've seen it with Van Dijk. We've seen it with Mohamed Salah. And, so you know, um I would not be surprised if this time next season, we're we're all having this similar discussion about Alison Becker and whether he's going extend his contract.
00:14:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I hope that isn't the case. I hope that we sort it out ah yeah long before then. um But it wouldn't surprise me if it goes the other way.
00:14:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think that The goalkeeping position for Liverpool, I think, is quite strong um ah with Alisson Becker and ah with the backup goalkeeper, Kweve Kelleher.
00:14:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
um You know, Kelleher was signed ah back in 2015. He's um played a total of 65 games, 23 clean shit ah sheets. He's got a win percentage, actually, of...
00:15:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
72%, which is is very, very impressive, bearing in mind that so Alison Becker's win ratio is 66%. So I think we're really strong in that goalkeeping department. And i think there's there's strong indications that Kelleher will leave.
00:15:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
and and fair play to him. um I don't think there's any Liverpool fan that can, um um you know, that can deny that he needs first team football. And I just don't think that he's going to get that at Liverpool, ah particularly, ah as I've mentioned, with Marma Dashvelli coming in as well.
00:15:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
It just means that he's just going to get further down the pecking order. So i expect him um to leave at the end of the season, which, um ah Sad to see him go, but, so ah you know, um it's just one of those things. I mean, he's out of contract um at the end of this season as well. So um the only downside is that we we will not get a fee for him. And it looks like there's a few players that we might know not get a fee for, which is not great ah for the club moving forward.
00:16:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Jaros is our ah third backup keeper and every time he's come on, he's he's looked pretty solid. um But I think it all depends on what happens with Kelleher and that contract situation with ah with Alison Becker ah to see whether he stays at the club.
Impact of Trent Alexander-Arnold's Potential Departure
00:16:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
um If we move on to the the outfield back four. Obviously, the big one here is Trent Alexander-Arnold. And i think I think he's looking increasingly likely that so he's going to leave at the end of the season.
00:16:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
On a free transfer, again, that's a real kick in the guts, I think, for for the club. um I think he's a fantastic player. um We have got...
00:17:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
An exceptional player in in the backup position in Connor Bradley, um should Trent go. But um I think it's going be a blow. It's a blow any time player of this quality leaves and leaves for nothing. It just makes it um even harder But so he's ah he's a local player who's come through the ranks.
00:17:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Liverpool debut back in 2016, 349 total games 22 goals, 86 assists from fullback. You know, win ratio of 67%. um ah total games for liverpool twenty two goals eighty six assists from fallback um you know a wind ratio of sixty seven percent And, you know, he's done the lot with Liverpool.
00:17:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
And maybe that's why, maybe that's why he thinks that it's probably time for him to, you know, to to leave and to experience something different, something abroad, which I can respect.
00:17:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, i really can. Obviously, as a he a Liverpool fan, I want him to stay. But just as a human being ah and and someone who's worked abroad myself, I understand the desire and, um you know, too to experience different cultures, ah different life, which he'll he'll get in Spain and Madrid.
00:18:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
But so he's won the lot, you know, Premier League Young Player of the Season, 2020 PFA Young Player of the Year, Champions League winner two thousand and nineteen European Super Cup 2019, Fever club World Premier League winner And coming his way. So,
00:18:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
two thousand and twenty league cup and a cup twenty twenty two and as i said looks like another premier league title is coming his way so you could ah You can understand why he may think this is the time to try something new.
00:18:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is going to leave a huge hole, I think, for Liverpool, just in terms of the way that we play. I think Conor Bradley, you know, is, I think he's probably a better defender, but obviously what we lose is that passing range.
00:19:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
um You know, the the eye for that killer pass, the assist, um and just that, that kind of relationship that has built over the years between Trent and Salah down that right flank, you know, that's so hard to, to replace and so hard to replicate, but it is something that Liverpool are going to have to deal with. And um whether that's Trent leaving and Salah leaving at the same time, it's going to be tough.
00:19:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But even if it's just Trent leaving, ah we're we're going to have to um get a relationship between Connor Bradley and Salah on that right hand flank as well that can be just as effective as it has been with Trent.
00:20:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But I think that so I do think that it's I think it's almost done that Trent will leave. um And then the question is.
00:20:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
um you know, we've got a gap then because if Bradley takes that position, um, and I think most Liverpool supporters are ah very, very comfortable with Connor Bradley coming in as our right back.
00:20:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, then, you know, there's a vacant slot there that Liverpool need to, to fill in the transfer market.
Left-Back Situation and Need for Succession Planning
00:20:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, if we go to the, um, the other side, the other flank, um,
00:20:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
And on the left back spot, which has been, I think has come under ah lot of scrutiny um this season. ah Both Andy Robertson and Kostas Simikas.
00:20:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think the reason for that is that Andy Robertson has struggled at some points um this season, ah which I think has then put the spotlight more on Kostas Simikas.
00:21:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
um and at a pressure for him to show that he's capable and has the quality to be Liverpool's first choice left back.
00:21:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think this season has shown that when Robertson has dropped off, whether it's, you know, ah through lack of fitness or he's coming back for injury injury and he he just hasn't got into the rhythm of the game um and the rhythm of the season, or whether it's just, you know in and out of form,
00:21:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
it it has shown that Kostas Simikas is not, he's not of the quality that Liverpool need um ah to play at that position. And I think what it also shows is that I think increasingly at the at the top clubs, I think you've got to have,
00:21:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Two fullbacks who are pretty much of the same level and who are fighting it out to to be that number one. I think the risk of having a number one and a number two is that if that number one is not playing for whatever reason.
00:22:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
whether it's injury, suspension, then the number two coming in, I think is, is, is a drop off. And I don't think that at this elite level, when you're playing in the Premier League, you're trying to win the Premier League or you're trying to win the Champions League, that you can afford that.
00:22:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think that um this season has shown that we do need to invest in left back. ah don't think um I don't think it spells the end of Andy Robertson. I've heard a lot of that.
00:22:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
um you know I've heard a lot of people saying that um you know he he should be ah kind of you know kind of shipped out or um you know maybe that's the end of his career for Liverpool.
00:22:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
i I don't see that. um um I think that there's enough there for Randy Robertson to to stay at Liverpool. He's got another year left on his contract.
00:23:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
And again, i think this time next season, we're going to be in a similar situation. as we find this season, where next season you'll have the likes of Andy Robertson and so um Alison Becker, two absolute stalwarts of this team, um or two of the leadership ah team on on the pitch, who are going to be out of contract this time next year. So we'll be having similar discussions. And I think Liverpool, again,
00:23:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
will probably leave it late. They'll, you know, drag this out and see whether, you know, but was this season an anomaly? Was it just one of those things where, you know, the players can have off games, they can have a few months off, maybe a whole season, not playing particularly well, but then they bounce back.
00:23:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think they'll want to see whether that is the case with Andy Robertson, um because um he's, ah you know, I think he's what, 31 now, I think. now i think um ah we signed him for 10 million pounds from uh from whole city i mean what a signing back in 2017 and i don't think much i don't think enough is made of that signing 10 million pounds for andy robertson absolutely one of the signings of the century um
00:24:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah I can't think of another fullback that has given more value for money at £10 million. pounds And again, he's he's won the lot, absolutely won the lot. And, you know, looks like the the Premier League is going to be added to his um his list of
00:24:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
336 total games, 11 goals, 66 assists. you know Him and Trent were you know such a force down those flanks, an attacking force.
00:24:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he is a great defender and you know he's ah a real fighter. And I just think that I hope that next season he's, um you know, he's back to his best. I do think that there's a value in keeping players like Andy Robertson, even if they don't play every single game.
00:25:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we've seen that in the past. We've seen that with the likes of James Milner, um you know, just having these players around who have been there, they've done it. um But they still have that drive, that professionalism um to make sure that the job is done and that the younger players that come in, the players that come in from other clubs from overseas, they know what it means to play for Liverpool Football Club and this kind of standards that are set and that they have to be maintained.
00:25:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think that Andy Robertson, I think next season is a key season for um for him um in terms of whether he's going to have a future at the club.
00:25:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I do think that Kostas Simikas, I would say he needs to be moved on and another left back has to ah to come in.
00:26:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if that means he's the number one left back and and Andy Robertson is one who's fighting for that position, think So be it.
Virgil van Dijk's Leadership and Future Considerations
00:26:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
um and and And we've got to look at that because there has to be a succession plan, given that Robertson is now in his um in his thirty s um Let's talk about the centre-backs. We've got so four centre-backs.
00:26:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Kanate, Joe Gomez and General Kwanzaa. Obviously, van Dijk is the standout leader in that pack.
00:26:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's the standout leader in the defence and he's probably the standout leader. He is the standout leader in how in our team. He's the captain. And he has been a phenomenal signing for Liverpool, another transformational ah signing for Liverpool, along with Alisson Becker.
00:26:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think those two players, I think, really propelled Liverpool from... kind of also runs or, you know on the periphery of a challenge to kind of bona fide title challenges and eventually um Premier League champions and champions of Europe. And it's, I think that the success of Liverpool in the modern era has been built on ah Virgil van Dijk, Alison Becker and Mo Salah.
00:27:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
um You know, those those kind of three heavyweights for Liverpool who are still there. And, you know, ah You know, 75 million pounds back in 2018 from Southampton.
00:27:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah You know, so many people laughed at that um transfer fee, but it's been more than paid back. And it's, um you know, he's been worth every single penny of that 75 million. And he, you know, has has had a clean sweep in terms of honours as well.
00:27:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
2019 PFA player of the year, um you know, 2018, 19, Premier League player of the year, Champions League winner, player of the year, 2000, UEFA player of the year, 2019, UEFA defender of the year, 2019, Super Cup winner, FIFA Club, ah FIFA Club Cup winner, Premier League winner,
00:28:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
two thousand and nineteen twenty leakup twenty twenty two f a cup twenty twenty two leakup twenty twenty four um You know, the the the list of honours is there and he is, he goes down as one of the great players at Liverpool Football Club.
00:28:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I would say, you know, for me, the greatest defender that's played in the Premier League era. But I'm happy to say that he's up there. No one can, no one can deny that he's, he's not up there.
00:28:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
With the greats, with the likes of Rio Ferdinand, with the likes of John Terry or Carvalho, you know, great, great defenders. um And for me, he he's head and shoulders above any of those players.
00:28:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the question really comes down to, are Liverpool going to extend his contract? um You know, it's, for me, it's a no-brainer.
00:29:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't see any drop-off for Van Dijk. I think he's, you know, he's kept himself fit. he There was that concern ah when Jordan Pickford um ended his season a couple of seasons back in that Merseyside derby.
00:29:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
and when he had that ACL injury that wrecked his season. He came back and it took a while for him to to find himself again, but he's he's adapted.
00:29:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think all great players, um they adapt with their you know with the onset of age. He may not have the lightning pace that he had before. He's not by no means slow, but he doesn't have that um lightning burst of acceleration that he had a few years back.
00:29:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
But what he has now um is the reading of the game. And so even if he's up against a player that's quicker than him, I think in his mind, he's quicker in in the way that he reads the game.
00:30:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you still don't see Virgil van Dijk dribbled around or left for dead because he's always in the right position. So think Liverpool have really a big decision to make. I think that's,
00:30:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just cannot think of a reason why Liverpool would not put pen to paper on a new contract for live for Virgil van Dijk. Yes, he's in his 30s. And I know FSG are thinking, what what is he going to be like in the next couple of seasons? Not what he's been like in the last two or three years.
00:30:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I get that. And that's you know that's sensible management. you have to do that because that they there are so many examples of players signing new contracts and they fall off a cliff.
00:30:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just don't see that with Virgil van Dijk. I don't see him falling off a cliff. I think if there's any drop-off, it's a ah minor drop-off and drop-off that makes him still a valuable part of the squad because the world's best defender, if he does drop off,
00:31:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's probably going to be just the best defender in the Premier League. And that's good enough. That's good enough to stay in that squad.
Center-Back Development and Depth
00:31:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So I do think that Liverpool um should, and I think they will extend.
00:31:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think really the, I think the negotiations are over the the extent to um how long Liverpool ah extend that contract. Is it going to be one year extension?
00:31:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is it going to be two? You know, the player and his his agent are probably pushing for three. I think they'll probably be somewhere in the middle. um Certainly that's the hope. um And next to him, who's been ah really the first choice ah partner of Van Dijk has been Ibrahim Kanate, who's been, i think has had his probably his best season for Liverpool this season.
00:32:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Signed for Liverpool 2021 for £36 million. pounds Again, I think a fantastic um signing, great value for money. And i think the the thing that Kanate has done this season, which I think um ah so that he's improved upon.
00:32:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
um and And whether that's just down to him or whether that's down to the to the the management of Arnie Slott and um the way that they've the sports science department have managed him as well is that he tends to get less muscular injuries.
00:32:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
he He used to get muscular injuries, a calf strain, a hamstring. um he He has been out this season, but that was for an impact injury. And I don't really count those. ah for players, um you know, some players get tagged with this, oh, he's injury prone.
00:32:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
And there are players like that, you know, um players who, you know, they pull up with a calf strain or hamstring, a thigh strain, Those are injury prone players. Thiago.
00:33:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thiago was a ah classic example of of an injury prone player. But I think someone who gets an impact injury, you know, I don't think that's injury prone. um And this season, I think Kanate has really, he's impressed.
00:33:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was always worried when the intensity of the season started to get going and there were two, three games a season, ah sorry, a week, ah two or three games a season, I think he could deal with.
00:33:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
when there was two or three games a week, um I was thinking, oh, he's going to pull up at any minute. And he didn't. and He just had that one impact injury against Real Madrid in the Champions League, which kept him out for about six weeks.
00:33:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But other than that, I think he's been pretty solid. And I think that Liverpool, again, his contract, um I think, yeah, he's up again next season. and You know, so again, that back line is is looking at um some real big changes potentially.
00:34:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Andy Robertson, Ibrahim Ibrahim Akanati and Alison Becker, all of their contracts are up for negotiation at the end of next season. So.
00:34:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know this This has got to be by design. This this cannot be um negligence. This is not FSG taking the ball off, taking their eyes off the ball. This is obviously something that they, it's part the plan.
00:34:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't necessarily agree with it. um I don't really see it often at other clubs, but it's what they're doing. So, you know, we'll see whether he stays, but I think that he's someone um that I think um should stay if Van Dijk stays.
00:34:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
The question is, is Canate the kind of player that can that can step up if Van Dijk is not playing? If he leaves, is Canate the kind of guy that can take on that mantle leadership in that back four?
00:35:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
um It's a question. It's a question. But he's 124 total games ah for Liverpool. He's got a win ratio of 68%. I think he's been solid as a rock this year, but we will see whether that's going to be enough for Liverpool to renew his contract next season. and And the other two are Joe Gomez and Gerald Kwanzaa.
00:35:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Gomez is our longest um serving player. um He was signed for £6 million pounds from Charlton Athletic back in 2015. And he's played 241 games.
00:35:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Everybody knows that he's not scored a goal for us yet. Yeah.
00:35:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, he's become, you know, he was a real important part of that central defensive pairing with Van Dijk when Van Dijk first came into the team.
00:36:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you had these two guys lightning quick and i had a really, really great relationship and they were they were just fantastic in the middle of that defence. And he's had a series of injuries.
00:36:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
But what it's meant, though, is that his kind of role at the club has changed and that he's become much more of a um ah utility player. He's much more versatile.
00:36:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, obviously, you you you can cover it centre back. He's played at right back. He's played at left back numerous times for Liverpool. And he's always done a good job. And I think that he is one of those players that,
00:36:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
He seems dispensable. um But I think when you have an injury crisis or a couple of players are suspended or they're not available, then Joe Gomez is a very, very, very useful player to have because he he's just, he's unflappable and he doesn't get phased and he's experienced. He's won the lot with Liverpool and he can play numerous positions. And I think every team does need a player like that.
00:37:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So it it remains to be seen whether, um you know, he's he's got a future at Liverpool. His contract expires 2027, so he's got a couple of years left on his contract. And there was a lot of talk that he was um it was part of a make-weight deal potentially to bring um ah to ah to bring players in um at the end of ah at the end of the last season um And so, you know, we'll see whether that's um going to be the ah case this season. Anthony Gordon was um was lined up potentially for Liverpool.
00:37:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we'll see whether that ah will be revisited ah this season. And then there's Gerald Kwanzaa. um Kwanzaa, who, ah you know, he came onto the scene a couple of seasons ago under Jurgen Klopp.
00:38:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's been in and out um under Arnie Slott. And, you know, I think he's he's a young player and I think that ah sometimes the criticism can be quite harsh at this level. You know, he's he's had a couple of instances where he's made mistakes, but...
00:38:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
he's a young player and I think that, um you know, I think he does have a future at Liverpool.
Defensive Reinforcements Needed
00:38:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But again, it just depends on the kind of business that Liverpool do at the end of the season, and um whether, you know, whether he does stay or whether Liverpool move him on to raise funds.
00:38:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But that's our defensive lineup. So, I mean, in terms of, whether we can do business to strengthen ah those areas.
00:38:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I think the the most critical areas that we've got to strengthen um at the very least um in the summer is going to be at left back and at right back.
00:39:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
I do think that we could do with another centre-back, but I'm not sure whether the club are going to sanction that many changes in one window. um But certainly right-back, because Trent is likely to move on, and at left-back, because I do think that...
00:39:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah whether Andy Robertson stays and whether Kostas Simikas, you know, whether he moves on. ah but ah But whoever stays, I think there has to be a player, a left back that comes in.
00:39:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Kerkhez has been mentioned at Bournemouth for around about 30 million. I think that'd be a great signing. um And he he's one of those players that... so um I think could really come in and be a future for Liverpool at that fullback position. Cause I think he's 20, 22, 23 years old, Hungarian international.
00:39:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So would, you know, it's got a ah teammate in Sabozlai there already. ah Robinson is also at Fulham, which is, I think would be a great signing, but I just, I think Kerkhez is probably more of an FSG signing because I think Robinson's, I think 28,
00:40:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I don't know whether there's any long term value um in in buying an English player ah from an English team, which going to cost you know a lot of money. I think Kirk is at 30 million at 23 years old, I think is probably far better value for Liverpool.
00:40:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
But so we shall see what Liverpool do at the end of the season.
Teaser for Next Episode: Liverpool's Midfield Assessment
00:40:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But that is all for today. um we'll continue again um on Wednesday ah to go and ah look at the Liverpool um ah squad, the Liverpool first team, um and see where we need to strengthen.
00:40:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we'll be looking at the midfield ah this time. So follow us on social media at GSPN Liverpool. ah You can email us at gspndailyliverpool at gmail.com. Join us again.
00:41:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
As I said, on Wednesday, we'll we'll be assessing that midfield line. Thank you for listening. Until next time.