Liverpool have had a disappointing season. This summer’s transfer window will be key to mounting a challenge next term. The Reds need to address some key issues in the squad with the side looking stretched thin. Crucially, Liverpool can’t repeat the mistake they made with Dejan Lovren, the Reds need to replace Gini Wijnaldum.
Poor Liverpool season
There’s no getting around how poor the Reds’ season has been.
Liverpool have had an awful campaign though we can trace the root cause back to injuries.
The back four has been devastated by fitness issues this season with an unthinkable injury crisis leading to some surprising lineups.
Virgil van Dijk ruptured his ACL in the Merseyside Derby in October, ruling him out until the 2021/22 campaign.
A few weeks later Joe Gomez suffered the same fate when he was struck by a knee injury in England training.
Joel Matip lasted a while longer though he was in and out of the side until he was ruled out for the term in January.
These injury woes have forced Jürgen Klopp into dropping key midfielders into the back four, completely disjointing the Reds’ style of play.
Dejan Lovren mistake
Over the summer Liverpool sold Dejan Lovren to Zenit for £10.9m.
The Croatian defender had become fourth choice at Anfield due to the immovability of Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk, as well as the impressive stand in runs of Joel Matip.
The Reds took the decision to move him on without replacing him, putting great faith in the fitness of the three remaining centre backs.
Within a couple of months the gamble was proven to be a disaster.
The decision not replace Lovren in effect cost Liverpool their title defence; having just one more senior pro at the back this term would’ve made a world of difference.
Gini Wijnaldum replacement
Liverpool can’t afford to make the same mistake with Gini Wijnaldum.
The Dutchman is set to leave the club this summer with his contract expiring at the end of the season.
Gini has played more minutes in the midfield than any other Liverpool player since he joined the club in 2016.
We need to learn our lesson from last summer’s mistake. Replacing Gini has to be a priority.
We need someone who can come in and comfortably play the same amount of minutes as we’ve asked of the Dutchman, otherwise we risk another glut of injuries derailing another campaign.
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