OPINION
Liverpool could have made an error by opting to sign Andy Lonergan over Michel Vorm after it was confirmed that the former Tottenham goalkeeper was considered by the Reds.
Alisson Becker’s injury in the win against Norwich led to Liverpool signing Lonergan, 35, on a one-year deal so that he could be the third-choice goalkeeper for this season and serve as back-up to Adrian over the coming weeks.
We could be well into September by the time Alisson is able to play again as he recovers from his injury and there have already been worries over Adrian after he suffered a swollen ankle after a freak incident with a pitch invader after the Super Cup win against Chelsea.
If Adrian was to get injured then Longeran would be the man who Jurgen Klopp would have to name in goals.
Lonergan has never played in the Premier League in his career but Vorm is someone who has over 100 appearances in England’s top-flight to his name as well as 15 caps for the Netherlands.
Liverpool’s goalkeeping coach John Achterberg has confirmed that the 35-year-old Dutchman, who is still a free agent, was someone looked at by the European champions.
“The arrival of Vorm has been discussed,” Achterberg told Dutch news outlet NOS.
However Achetberg is convinced that Lonergan is a suitable back-up option.
He added: “Lonergan has more than 250 matches at Championship level experience, not to be underestimated.”
If Liverpool looked at Vorm then what made sporting director Michael Edwards believe that Lonergan was a better free agent to sign?
Vorm had spent five years as back-up to Hugo Lloris at Tottenham and made 47 appearances in that time, conceding 47 goals and keep 17 clean sheets.
According to stats by WhoScored, he averaged 4.5 saves per match in his two Premier League outings for Spurs last season while Lonergan has never been able to average that many saves per match in any of his seasons on WhoScored’s records.
Vorm is simply a better goalkeeper and could have even been a match for Adrian as second-choice rather than just a third option behind the Spaniard.
However that ship has now sailed and unless Klopp wants a fourth option in goals, which is highly unlikely, it seems like Vorm is no longer someone being eyed up by the Merseyside giants.
