In his latest column, John Aldridge looks at the forthcoming transfer deadline and what he wants to see from Liverpool at the weekend
The Liverpool FC, Tranmere and Republic of Ireland great, Aldo’s lively and opinionated weekly column on LFC is a must read for all Reds fans.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot and Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta(Image: Maja Hitij/Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Liverpool may have been very busy in the transfer market this summer. But I want to see a bit more business before the deadline next Monday evening.
It doesn’t take a genius to determine the two areas where we need more numbers. Indeed, sporting director Richard Hughes already knows this. It’s why we bid £110million for Alexander Isak at the start of the month and have since opened talks with Crystal Palace for their captain Marc Guehi.
For me, centre-back has to be the priority whether it is Guehi or not, although it’s been obvious for some time Liverpool have their chief targets and don’t really like to veer away from them.
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We have to bring in two more players. That might mean moving some other players on, and the club have been clever this summer in making sure we aren’t overloaded with too many in the squad.
It has also helped raised funds for incomings, and I would expect to see one or two more leave with Harvey Elliott and Kostas Tsimikas among those linked with an exit.
Look at some of our rivals. Both Arsenal and Chelsea have spent enormous amounts and are still seeking to bring in new faces, and will have stronger squads than last season. That’s what we are up against.
The Isak situation will soon reach a conclusion. I’m not sure Newcastle’s Saudi owners have played the wisest game with the striker, and from the outside it looks like they might be trying to bully him a bit. That simply won’t work.
Isak is a great player but isn’t worth the reported £150m Newcastle are asking, that’s ridiculous money. Liverpool have come in with a proper good opening offer of £110m, and maybe the clubs will have to meet in the middle for a deal to be done.
Eddie Howe has been put in a very difficult situation, but if I was manager there I’d now want Isak gone – but only if I had two replacements in. Which, of course, is exactly what Newcastle are attempting to do at the moment.
Will Liverpool sign Guehi and Isak? I really hope so. But if it’s not them, we really do need to be bringing in one other centre-back and another attacking option.
Arsenal rightful favourites
It’s a play on the infamous song from my playing days. But you know what I’d love to see at Anfield on Sunday? 1-0 to the Liverpool.
There’s a reason Arsenal have already overtaken us as favourites to win the Premier League this season: they can defend right now and we can’t.
Going forward we have no issues with seven goals in two games, but if we can match up with Arsenal defensively sooner rather than later then I don’t think it will be long before Liverpool are favourites again.
Arsenal are supposed to be the elite team in the world at set-pieces so they’ll have been licking their lips at the problems Newcastle were causing Liverpool on Monday.
If I was Virgil van Dijk, I’d be using that as an incentive to keep Arsenal out. After all, we can’t keep on having to score three goals to win.
So I’d love a narrow win on Sunday. Don’t get me wrong, I’d happily accept a 5-0! But a low-scoring victory would show we can grind out results just like Arsenal.
Finally, it was great to see my old club Tranmere Rovers earn another three points at the weekend with a 2-0 win at Crawley Town.
Andy Crosby is getting the team on the right track and they’re still unbeaten in League Two. Long may that continue.