Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has issued a stark warning to manager Arne Slot, insisting the club must dive back into the transfer market this January despite an unprecedented summer spending spree that exceeded £440 million.
Record Spending Fails to Deliver Results
Following their Premier League title triumph last season, Liverpool embarked on a massive squad overhaul, breaking the record for the most money spent by a single club in a transfer window. The marquee signings of Florian Wirtz for £116 million and Alexander Isak for £125 million highlighted a window that saw ten new players arrive at Anfield.
However, the return on this colossal investment has been disappointing. After 11 league matches, the defending champions find themselves languishing in eighth position, a significant eight points behind leaders Arsenal, with many of Slot's new recruits struggling to adapt.
Carragher's Defensive Concerns
Despite a net spend of £415 million, Carragher believes the squad remains critically short in key areas, particularly in central defence. Speaking to Sky Sports, the pundit was unequivocal in his assessment.
"Liverpool need to spend in January, they need to buy a centre-back, they should have bought a centre-back in the summer," Carragher stated. He pointed to the unfortunate ACL injury suffered by young Italian defender Leoni after a promising Carabao Cup appearance as a major setback, leaving the squad dangerously thin.
"Liverpool are probably one injury away at centre-back from really derailing the season, so they have to go to the market in January," he warned, emphasising the urgency of the situation.
A Question of Transfer Strategy
While Carragher acknowledged the necessity of bringing in a large number of players to replace those Slot lacked confidence in—such as Kostas Tsimikas, Jarrell Quansah, and Harvey Elliott—he questioned the logic behind some specific purchases.
He expressed particular bewilderment at the decision to spend huge money on both Alexander Isak and another striker, Ekitike, in the same window. "When you've spent that type of money, and it just becomes one or the other... it doesn't feel very Liverpool-like to me," Carragher remarked, suggesting it deviated from the club's recent shrewd transfer policy.
Beyond a defender, Carragher also identified a lack of physicality and pace in the team. On the Stick to Football podcast, he suggested a move for Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo, citing his lightning speed, power, and a potential January release clause. "I just think more pace in the team and physicality and power," he concluded, underscoring the need for a specific profile of player to revitalise Liverpool's campaign.
