2025-12-09 01:20:54
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is stuck between a rock and a hard place after Mohamed Salah’s extraordinary outburst in the wake of the Reds’ 3-3 draw against Leeds United at Elland Road.
Having led 2-0 after the hour mark, Liverpool succumbed to recurrences of fragile defending and weak mentalities, and Salah’s comments were fuelled by frustration after sitting on the bench for the third successive game, this time not entering the field at all.
But the Egyptian attacker’s narrative-stealing invective has turned attention away from the latest woes from Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk, the former making yet another mistake and the captain’s collapse in confidence and composure laid bare – barer – at the weekend.
Pundit Jamie Redknapp believes the centre-backs are “playing like they’ve never met each other before”, and it’s crucial that Slot finds a way to solve this problem that is threatening to swallow the Premier League champions whole.
Liverpool need to fix their defence
With Liverpool’s star defenders flattering to deceive, it’s only natural that FSG should consider signing a new man this winter. That botched bid for Marc Guehi at the end of the summer transfer window continues to look more detrimental for Slot and Liverpool’s season.
The need for a centre-back is great, but Liverpool’s midfield has been well below standard this season, and a robust and physical force might bear dividends in Slot’s plan to rekindle balance and make his side more compact, harder to play through.
As per Football Insider, Atalanta’s Ederson has been earmarked as the candidate, FSG having been informed they could strike a deal for the 26-year-old in January.
A bid worth £50m could do the trick. Liverpool have the facilities for such an offer, and it is one they must make to arrest this disastrous slump.
What Ederson would offer Liverpool
Slot is a man on the brink. What only months ago looked like the foundation of a dynasty could now collapse like a house of cards, with so many things having gone wrong at Anfield.
In isolation, Ryan Gravenberch hasn’t been poor this season, but he’s struggling to combine with Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai and create a balanced and efficient central unit.
This is one of the many issues Slot has yet to find the answer for, and if he is to restore Liverpool’s equilibrium and get the centre-backs operating at their maximum once more, it might be a centre-midfielder who needs to be signed.
Ederson could be the perfect man for the job. Reporter Carlo Garganese described the Brazilian as a “machine” of a midfielder when Gian Piero Gasperini led Atalanta to the Europa League title, severing Bayer Leverkusen’s historic unbeaten run.
The South American enforcer packs a more powerful punch than any of Liverpool’s current midfield options, and he’s mobile and balanced in his midfield performance too, ranking among the top 8% of Serie A midfielders this season for pass completion, the top 15% for progressive passes and the top 5% for ball recoveries per 90, as per FBref.
A ball recovery is defined by the number of loose balls recovered by a player.
He is a combative, ground-covering midfielder, and his impetus on progressing play could see him provide the coating Liverpool’s defence needs to turn things around, helping cover Konate’s weakness in the build-up and providing legs to ensure Van Dijk, 34, can settle in his defensive berth.
|
Van Dijk & Konate vs Leeds United |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Match Stats |
Konate |
Van Dijk |
|
Minutes played |
90′ |
90′ |
|
Touches |
62 |
83 |
|
Shots (on target) |
1 (1) |
1 (0) |
|
Accurate passes |
40/49 (82%) |
57/62 (92%) |
|
Chances created |
0 |
0 |
|
Dribbles |
0/0 |
0/0 |
|
Ball recoveries |
4 |
1 |
|
Tackles won |
1/2 |
0/0 |
|
Interceptions |
0 |
1 |
|
Clearances |
4 |
15 |
|
Duels won |
7/10 |
12/14 |
|
Data via Sofascore |
||
Italian content creator Damiano Coccia has even claimed that Ederson is “the strongest defensive midfielder in the world”, so it’s clear to see why he would be such a brilliant addition for an Anfield side in disrepair.
Against Leeds, Van Dijk and Konate combined for an abject second-half display, and this is exactly the type of player who would stop the rot and bring Liverpool back into the ascendancy.
His athleticism and tough-tackling nature would help Van Dijk and Konate play their way back into form.
Salah upgrade: Liverpool prepare British record bid to sign £131m magician
Mohamed Salah may leave Liverpool in January after an extraordinary outburst at Elland Road.
