Liverpool have had an inconsistent start to the new campaign. While a flourishing attacking display saw them defeat Arsenal 4-3 in the opening fixture, they struggled defensively. It just got worse in their second fixture against Burnley. A struggling midfield and two very well taken goals by Burnley meant the Reds suffered their first loss of the season. It’s no surprise the team has not really been challenging for titles on a regular basis. With the manager constantly changing, it’s brought about instability. Each manager comes in and needs time to build his own team from the underperforming one he has inherited. As a result of it, Liverpool have just been building for several years now with no real results apart from the 2013-14 season when they finished as runners-up. Jurgen Klopp did reasonably well from the side he inherited from Brendan Rodgers, reaching two cup finals in his first season in charge. However, the League position did not really improve. This season he’ll have no excuse as it’s his squad now. He’s made a few astute signings like Mane and Wijnaldum and as also let go of those that were not needed anymore, like Allen, Benteke, and Ibe. However, there are still a few more areas he needs to improve on.
Three players Liverpool can sign are:
1. Ricardo Rodriguez
Liverpool desperately need a left-back as Alberto Moreno has absolutely struggled in the Premier League so far. While he’s done well on the attacking front, his defending has been abysmal costing Liverpool on numerous occasions. Ricardo Rodriguez is a more than able replacement. Currently playing for Wolfsburg, the Swiss International is a regular in their first XI. Apart from being solid defensively, he’s always looking to get forward. He has a terrific left foot which makes him very valuable on set pieces. His height gives him an advantage while defending. He’s also still very young which means he can be a long-term investment.
2. Jonas Hector
Of course one poor performance doesn’t define a player, but Moreno has been consistently poor for a while now. Another replacement Liverpool can look at is Jonas Hector. A player Klopp could be familiar with from his Dortmund days. He’s great when it comes to defending one on one and his physical presence gives him an added advantage. He’s also very competent in playing on the counter and is a very viable option for the Reds.
3. Shkodran Mustafi
Liverpool have had defensive problems for a while now and they don’t seem to go away. While Klopp has strengthened his squad at the other end, he hasn’t really added much defensively. Even though Mustafi has been linked with Arsenal, he would be a great buy for Liverpool. He’s great in the air, good on the ball and could be a very good addition to Liverpool.