Liverpool are aiming to strengthen Andoni Iraola's squad on transfer deadline day after failing to win either of their opening two Premier League matches. Bradley Barcola completed his £123million move from Paris Saint-Germain on Monday, with further arrivals expected before the window closes.
Mohamed Salah has still not been fully replaced, as Barcola prefers operating from the left, while the club are retaining Cody Gakpo. Liverpool resisted interest from Manchester City, including an £80m bid, as they do not want Iraola's side to weaken in the closing hours of the window.
Goalkeeper and Defence
Alisson Becker, who arrived in August 2018, has established himself as arguably the finest goalkeeper in the club's history. Despite injury setbacks in recent campaigns, the 33-year-old Brazilian remains among the best on his day. Giorgi Mamardashvili has filled in with mixed results but has struggled to make a convincing case. The club are edging closer to a £30m deal for 18-year-old goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans, though he is expected to stay in Belgium for the upcoming campaign. Alisson will therefore continue in goal for the rest of this season.
French centre-back Jeremy Jacquet, bought from Rennes in January for £60m, appears to have established himself as Virgil van Dijk's new defensive partner after featuring in the opening two fixtures. With Conor Bradley expected to remain sidelined following the injury he sustained against Arsenal late last season, Jeremie Frimpong will continue at right-back. The Dutchman will need to raise his game after an underwhelming start. Dominik Szoboszlai has been suggested by some supporters as a right-back candidate, having filled in there last season, but Iraola prefers the No. 8 in central midfield. On the opposite flank, Milos Kerkez will be the undisputed first-choice left-back following Andy Robertson's exit.
Midfield
Iraola's central midfield pairing arguably picks itself, with Ryan Gravenberch alongside Szoboszlai, the Dutchman operating slightly deeper in his customary No. 6 role. Gravenberch was dropped for Saturday's draw with Forest after gifting two goals to the Magpies the week prior. Florian Wirtz will operate ahead of those two, afforded the freedom to roam and combine with the front three, as he demonstrated to reasonable effect in the 2-2 draw against Forest.
Alexis Mac Allister can compete with Gravenberch for the central midfield berth, though the club are not believed to be looking to strengthen their engine room further this window despite Curtis Jones's exit to Inter Milan. Stefan Bajcetic has left on a permanent basis, while Harvey Elliott is reportedly heading out on loan to Valencia. That leaves Wataru Endo, currently sidelined through injury, alongside Trey Nyoni to bolster Iraola's central ranks.
Attack
The partnership of Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak is yet to truly fire due to injury setbacks, and that duo still won't get the opportunity to flourish until Ekitike completes his recovery from a ruptured Achilles. Isak, who netted his first goal of the campaign at the weekend against Forest, will be flanked by new addition Bradley Barcola on the left, with Cody Gakpo's impending switch to Manchester City appearing virtually inevitable. Barcola's backup will be teenage sensation Rio Ngumoha.
On the right, it seems to be a straight choice between Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr and Brighton's Yankuba Minteh. The Reds are yet to find a replacement for Salah on that flank, and Minteh has attracted considerable interest. Currently, Sarr appears the most probable option, with the Reds having already tested Palace with a £50m bid. Yet, in an ideal world, the Reds would rather secure the signing of Minteh, despite having already seen two offers for the Gambian international turned down.
Liverpool's dream XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Minteh, Isak, Barcola.
