Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane and Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher have delivered a stark warning to the Anfield hierarchy, claiming the club will be rueing their failure to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace this summer.
Defensive Woes Prompt Transfer Regret
The Premier League champions have endured a difficult start to the new campaign, with their defensive frailties exposed on several occasions. The situation was compounded when summer signing Giovanni Leoni suffered a season-ending ACL injury, drastically depleting manager Arne Slot's options at the back.
This context has made the club's collapsed deadline day move for Marc Guehi look like a critical error in judgement, according to the two pundits. Both believe the failure to secure the England international's signature could have severe consequences for Liverpool's season.
Carragher and Keane's Champions League Warning
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Carragher did not mince his words about the transfer misstep. "That was a bad mistake," he stated, referencing Liverpool's renowned transfer market acumen. "Liverpool are known as being really smart in the market, not overpaying and really good at selling. That could cost them."
Carragher went so far as to suggest that the club must sign a central defender in the January transfer window to salvage their season. Keane immediately interjected, asserting that failure to do so would mean "they'd miss out on the Champions League" - a sentiment Carragher wholeheartedly agreed with.
The former Manchester United skipper specifically highlighted the Guehi deal, adding: "They'll regret that decision as well, Guehi in the summer, won't they. That looks worse now, the more you look at it."
What Next for Guehi and Liverpool?
The proposed transfer fell through on deadline day after Crystal Palace pulled the plug, having failed to secure their own preferred replacement for their captain. The 25-year-old's contract expires in the summer of 2026, making the upcoming January window Palace's final opportunity to command a significant fee.
According to reports from Sky Sports, the feeling at Selhurst Park is that Liverpool are the only one of Guehi's suitors likely to make a move in January. While the defender has admirers among Europe's elite, other clubs are thought to be biding their time in the hope of securing him on a free transfer the following year.
For Arne Slot and Liverpool, the warnings from two of football's most respected pundits could not be clearer. The failure to reinforce their defence, specifically by not signing Marc Guehi, is a decision that now threatens to derail their entire season.
