The summer transfer window has left fans of almost every club in the Premier League with mixed reactions. Though a few clubs managed to have a near perfect transfer window, some have not been able to fulfill all their requirements going into the new season.
Merseyside outfit Liverpool is one such club that has its fans a bit disappointed after a tame end to the transfer window. The Reds purchased the likes of Loris Karius, Joel Matip, Georginio Wijnaldum, Marko Grujic and Ragnar Klavan among others and managed to improve the strength in the squad. However, there are still a couple of positions that need to be strengthened which has left a sour taste of the window for the fans of the club around the world.
The club did not sign a single player in the last few weeks of the window and also let go of a few players in the hope that they will see first team football elsewhere but a few questions still remain fresh in the minds of the Reds regarding Liverpool’s conduct in the transfer window. So let’s take a look at 3 questions Liverpool fans are asking after a dull end to their deadline day.
How is Alberto Moreno still the only left back at the club?
The Reds paid for a lack of quality in their defense last season when Alberto Moreno’s critical positioning cost them a couple of goals in the Europe League final against Sevilla. This convinced everyone that the Spaniard’s days at the club as the first choice would be over before the new season. Though his days are actually over, he is not replaced by any of the transfer targets for the club but has fallen down the pecking order to utility player James Milner who is still adjusting to his new role.
With a positive net spent this summer, it is hard to understand why Liverpool have no quality left back this season even after the debacles of the last one. They were linked to a couple of European stars but none of the deals were going in the right direction and has left the club with Moreno as the only senior left back in the squad going into the next season.
Does Klopp not need a defensive midfielder?
The lack of a proper defensive midfielder in the squad has haunted the Reds since the departure of Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano from the club a few years ago. Though Steven Gerrard was exceptional in the place in the 2013-14 season, Liverpool have not found a player who can take that place for a long time. Emre Can, the German international who is growing into an important player for the club is currently the first choice to start in that position while Lucas Leiva may be used when they need to shut shop in crunch games.
The likes of Jordan Henderson, Marko Grujic and Georginio Wijnaldum are close to offensive midfielders than defensive ones leaving just Kevin Stewart as the best option for the club this season. Even with all the money spent in the window, it is disheartening for the fans to see an inexperienced youngster as their first choice for one of the most important places in the squad.
What will happen to Mamadou Sakho?
It has been a sad year for the French international who lost his place in the Europa League final last season after being handed a doping-related ban by WADA late last season. Ever since, though he was free of the allegations, Sakho was dropped from the French national squad and then picked up an injury in the pre-season with the Reds only to anger Klopp with his antics. The Liverpool manager summoned the 26-year old for lack of professionalism and bad attitude and has later asked the player to search for a club to move away on loan as he has no place in the squad.
The defender was told that he would be frozen if he stays at the club but Sakho decided to reject offers from West Brom and Stoke to stay and fight for his place at Liverpool. The transfer window is shut but Sakho is still a Liverpool player, mentioned in grey letters in the team squad on the official site leaving the fans in confusion over his position in the squad. He is a fan favourite who is adored by many at that club. He is also a great addition to any squad and looking at Klopp freezing him is not easy for the fans. They want him to play and Klopp does not, so we have to wait and see what he will do at Liverpool this season.
