Liverpool’s conundrum this window will be over how much they should change a winning
team. To last season’s Champions League has been added this season’s Premier League
and Liverpool can justly claim to be one of the world’s top teams, if not the top.
A well-oiled machine is tough to tweak. But Liverpool, who were one of the first teams
in England not just to use data, but to get buy-in for it at decision-making level, will
be aware that the quest to stay on top will require renewal at some point.
Led by Michael Edwards, with noted assistance from Ian Graham, Tim Waskett, and Will Spearman,
Liverpool’s analytics team assists with recruitment and coaching. The key element
to Liverpool’s success in this area is not that they employ very smart people, although
they do, but that these people are listened to at boardroom level. The information they
provide actually informs decision-making.
So, with a team system in place and every first team starter of high quality, where
do Liverpool look to improve? With youngsters like Curtis Jones, Neco Williams, Rhian Brewster
and Harvey Elliott coming through, Liverpool do have a good line of talent from the academy
to the first team squad.
But areas of the squad need back-up. Nine of Liverpool’s players started 26 games
or more last season, and seven of those started 30 plus. Cover for Andy Robertson has been
addressed with the signing of Kostas Tsimikas, but Liverpool only have three top level centre
backs of experience, no proven successor in the crucial Firmino role, and could do with
an all-round midfielder to provide cover and offer variation.
With that in mind, here are three areas we feel Liverpool could strengthen.
Roberto Firmino was one of the transfer committee’s major successes and Liverpool will have players
in mind to succeed him; one, Takumi Minamino, is already on the books.
Another suggestion is Daichi Kamada of Eintracht Frankfurt. In the league he’s got two goals
and four assists, and in the Europa League, six goals and two assists. He’s an attacking
midfielder, playing off Frankfurt’s front two a lot, but he’s versatile. He looks
to receive the ball between the lines, turn, and look for a forward run or pass. The 24
year-old has also underperformed his expected goals this season, suggesting he can improve.
Our pick, though, is Emi Buendia from Norwich City. He’s not a striker, but there’s
every reason to suggest him as a rotation option for the Firmino role. His ability to
carve out opportunities to feed strikers ahead of him suits Liverpool, and his metrics this
season have been good playing in a poor Norwich team.
He’s an aggressive presser and counter-presser, and makes more interceptions and tackles per
90 than Firmino when adjusted for opposition possession. He may even be able to up his
goal-scoring – in Norwich’s system that wasn’t his role, but with better players
and playing further up the pitch, it’s very possible. He could also offer an option to
play as a more creative central midfielder.
Liverpool could take advantage of Barcelona’s need to shift players to bid for Carles Alena.
He wasn’t outstanding in a stuttering Betis side, but showed his quality in two matches
for Barcelona at the beginning of the season – he’s able to get the ball forwards well,
with a good eye for through passes, and he looked frustrated at Betis by the lack of
movement ahead of him. He’s defensively busy and technically good, too.
The obvious choice, though, is Thiago Alcantara. The Bayern midfielder may be 29, but he is
an elite creative presence in a deeper midfield role. With 10.5 passes a game that move the
ball forwards 10 yards or into the penalty area, and 9.4 final third passes per 90, Thiago
would allow Liverpool greater midfield ball progression. He’s also an astute and hard-working
presser, has copious experience playing at two of the biggest clubs in Europe, and would
elevate an already exceptional unit.
Liverpool are losing Dejan Lovren, while Joel Matip may leave. Liverpool have demonstrated
why clubs spend large sums on defenders, with Virgil van Dijk a transformational acquisition,
but they may now want to give some of younger prospects an opportunity. The Dutch pair Ki-Jan
Hoever and Sepp van den Berg probably merit more first team minutes, while Nathaniel Phillips
would benefit from another loan spell.
Should Liverpool want to buy, though, Ben White of Brighton and Hove Albion would be
an interesting, if expensive, option. He excelled at Leeds this season; defensively solid, excellent
at anticipating danger, and adept both at long-range passing and bringing the ball out
from deep. A talented, young English centre back, he would cost a sizeable amount and
would probably also want first team football, which Liverpool would be hard-pressed to guarantee,
but he’s an excellent prospect.
Liverpool could, for less money, also look at Schalke’s Malick Thiaw. A tall, physically
imposing 19 year old, he did well in his limited Bundesliga minutes, but watching him play
for Schalke’s youth team, it’s clear he’s a proactive defender, looking to nip in ahead
of players to win the ball, closing down space, and possessing a good passing range. One for
the future, again, but considerably cheaper than White.