Liverpool’s Transfer Window: A Tale of Missed Opportunities and Incomplete Fixes
As the transfer window gets ready to slam shut, Liverpool fans have been left with mixed feelings. On one hand, there were promising additions like Federico Chiesa and Georgi Mamardashvili, but on the other, glaring needs were left unaddressed. On the latest Daily Red podcast, Dave Hendrick didn’t mince his words when discussing Liverpool’s transfer activity, labelling the window as a “failure” despite some good business.
Chiesa and Mamardashvili: Good Deals but Not Enough
Liverpool’s acquisition of Federico Chiesa and Mamardashvili were seen as solid moves by Hendrick. “Two really good players without question,” he remarked, acknowledging their quality. Chiesa, despite his post-ACL injury concerns, was described as “an outstanding footballer,” and Mamardashvili was lauded as “the best young keeper in the world.” In isolation, these deals represented excellent value, but Hendrick’s frustration stemmed from the bigger picture.
The Defensive Midfielder Dilemma
The glaring issue, according to Hendrick, was Liverpool’s failure to address the need for a defensive midfielder. “We had two glaring needs, and we haven’t addressed either of them,” he lamented. The pursuit of players like Aurélien Tchouaméni, Romeo Lavia, Moisés Caicedo, and Martín Zubimendi ended in failure for various reasons, ranging from competing offers to the players’ personal preferences. But Hendrick was clear that this was no excuse: “There aren’t just four defensive midfielders out there that have been good enough for us. It’s simply not the case.”
The inability to land a suitable defensive midfielder left Liverpool exposed, particularly in a position that has been identified as a priority for several seasons. “Three years we’ve been trying to fill this position,” Hendrick emphasized, underscoring the frustration of another summer gone without resolving this critical issue.
The Shortcomings at Left Back
Another area of concern for Hendrick was the left-back position, which he described as a weak point in Liverpool’s squad. While he conceded that the club might be able to “carry a weak left back” due to the strength of the rest of the defence and the presence of “the best keeper in the world,” he questioned why the club hadn’t addressed this need. “There were plenty of options out there,” he insisted, noting that the club had “multiple players” to choose from but ultimately failed to act.
A Frustrating End to the Window
Hendrick’s overall assessment of Liverpool’s transfer window was damning. Despite acknowledging the good business done, he could not overlook the fact that key areas of the squad remain under-strengthened. “This window must go down as a failure because while the business that was done was good, it was not nearly enough,” he concluded. The decision to not overpay for certain targets was criticized as short-sighted, with Hendrick pointing out that sometimes, “you just have to overpay.”
As the Premier League season unfolds, Liverpool fans will be hoping that the squad’s existing strengths can compensate for its weaknesses. However, with the club entering the season “underprepared,” as Hendrick described it, the road ahead could be more challenging than it needed to be.
