Robbie Fowler has admitted that Liverpool's current squad is not capable of challenging for the Premier League title this coming season. However, the legendary striker remains confident that the club will make the right signings in the summer transfer window to support new coach Andoni Iraola.
Liverpool finished fifth last season and saw Mohamed Salah, Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson leave at the end of their contracts. Arne Slot was sacked after just 12 months in charge, and sporting director Richard Hughes has so far only added Victor Munoz, a £34.5m signing from Osasuna.
Fowler confident in transfer window
Speaking on the club's pre-season tour of the United States, Fowler acknowledged the rebuild is far from complete with less than a month until the Premier League season starts. "Look, if I’m sort of sat here and saying ‘oh yeah, we are perfect and we’re in a great place’, then you’d be looking at me thinking I’m lying," Fowler said. "I’ve got to be totally honest with you, I think this current squad is not capable of challenging."
"But there’s a long time [to go] in the window and I’m very confident that the club will bring players in. And I’m very confident the club will bring the right players in to sort of aid and progress the football." Fowler added that a new manager brings a fresh start and that players will arrive in the remaining weeks of the window.
Leadership and transfer needs
Fowler also discussed the need for leaders in the squad. "You look at the players now and people say there’s a lack of leaders. Obviously Virgil [van Dijk] is the captain and there’s a vice captaincy up for a debate or a conversation. I think the one who is built for that is Dominik Szoboszlai. He was the outstanding player of last year, he's just signed a new contract and he will be absolutely buzzing and he is one of the leaders."
He added: "But don’t be surprised if someone comes in as a leader as well. As much as we should be signing young players, of course, why can’t you sign experienced players as well? Because I think young players need experience to help and guide them as well."
New coach Iraola has outlined the need for a winger and a right-sided defender, especially with Conor Bradley recovering from a serious knee injury suffered in January.
Alexander Isak's form
Fowler also spoke about Alexander Isak, who endured a miserable debut season after his British-record £125m move from Newcastle United on September 1 last year. Isak arrived unfit and suffered a leg break in December that sidelined him for four months. "I think pre-season is massive and I think that is where he probably struggled last year," Fowler said. "But it’s also the sharpness and the match sharpness and I think he lacked that."
"This version we’ve seen so far of Alexander Isak is not the version at Newcastle, who we all wanted to sign because he scores tremendous goals. And ironically when he starts getting his match sharpness that’s when he has his injury." Fowler stressed the importance of Isak having a strong pre-season and noted that Liverpool's tactics last season did not play to his strengths as a focal striker, suggesting more crosses from the byline this campaign.
