OPINION
It’s been a great week for Liverpool fans, with Brazil goalkeeper Alisson seemingly on the brink of a move to Anfield.
He’s the big statement buy that fans were desperate to get this season, as murmurings continue over the net spend of the club.
He’ll make a big impact on the side and Liverpool will be closer to Man City as a result, but they still don’t have enough to challenge for the title.
Former Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy thinks as much, too.
He was talking at the recent McDonald’s & FAW Community Football Day, as quoted in the Liverpool Echo, and when asked who Liverpool needed to buy after Alisson, he said: “A centre-back.”
He went on to say that he wanted to see cover for Andrew Robertson at left-back too, adding, “Just one or two more players. I’m not saying they’re going to go and win the league off the back of that but they won’t be far away.”
And he’s right. Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren – despite his so-called resurrection at the World Cup – aren’t the long-term answer for Liverpool.
Lovren came under severe criticism last season and he’s always got a mistake in him.
Matip spent two stints out last season with an injury and never looked rock solid when he was playing.
Who could Klopp buy? Harry Maguire is an obvious, if expensive option, but Leicester won’t want to sell for anything but stupid money.
Toby Alderweireld would be sensational but Liverpool aren’t going to want to spend another £55million this summer after splashing out £67million on Alisson.
It’s a real conundrum and it might be that Klopp concedes and goes into next season with a combination of Joe Gomez/Lovren/Matip depending on who he’s playing and how Liverpool want to combat them.
The bad news is that will be a weakness that will be exploited by the better teams and although they’ll be one step closer to the title, the big prize will still elude them.
We predict fans will be calling for a new centre-back in January and Liverpool will sadly fall short once more.
