In a recent interview with Football Insider, former Premier League centre-forward Darren Bent has urged Liverpool to recruit Brentford goalkeeper David Raya before the domestic transfer deadline later this month. Bent said, “For me, I think it is an issue that they need to address. But where can you find a backup goalkeeper now?
“We are talking about the Premier League champions so it shouldn’t be that hard but where do you get a goalkeeper that is going to be happy coming into the team to play for six weeks until Allison comes back and then you’re back on the bench.
“It has to be a concern because they have seen firsthand what happens when you don’t have an adequate backup goalkeeper.
“The only one who I can think of as a potentially good back up goalkeeper is David Raya, maybe him.
“At the highest level now you can’t just rely on your one goalkeeper.
“The days of Brad Friedel or David James where you can go so long without getting an injury, seasons without getting an injury seem to be a thing of the past.
“I think you need two very good goalkeepers now. They need to find one who’s close to Allison; he’s never going to be as good as Allison.”
Bent has a point when he suggests that the Reds need two solid keepers if they want to compete for multiple trophies in the years to come. Adrian has committed two horrendous errors against Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League last season. The Spaniard was once again at fault for having a complete meltdown versus Aston Villa last weekend when he shipped in seven goals in a dreadful 7-2 loss in the Premier League.
Raya’s Eye-Catching Spell At The Brentford Community Stadium
Raya could be a decent option for the Reds after he produced several impressive performances for the Bees over the past 12 months. He made 49 appearances for the Greater London side in the previous campaign, conceding 42 goals while securing 16 clean sheets across multiple competitions. The Spanish custodian did well to average 1.0 clearances and 6.1 long balls per game in the English second division but needs to improve his ball-distribution after making only 70.9% of his attempted passes in league football (stats via whoscored).
What Are The Spanish Keeper’s Best Attributes?
Raya is a decent handler of the ball when he is coming out of his six-yard box to collect crosses and can pull off some quick dives to deny the opposition from scoring. The Spaniard has also got above-average reflexes which helps him make a few solid stops at the back. However, there is no denying that he needs to improve his accuracy when passing the ball out from his penalty box.
Should The Reds Get Raya On Board This Month?
Raya has been a consistent performer for Brentford since he arrived from Blackburn Rovers last summer. He has made an impressive start to this campaign after shipping in two goals and securing one clean sheet in two matches for the Bees so far.
The Championship goalie has what it takes to serve as a decent back-up to Alisson Becker for the remainder of this 2020-21 campaign. He will be a significant upgrade over the mistake-plagued Adrian and the inexperienced Caoimhín Kelleher if Jurgen Klopp decides to bring him to Anfield this month. With all things considered, the Reds should consider listening to Bent’s advice by engineering a move for Raya to get him on board ahead of the domestic transfer deadline.
