Pundit Don Hutchison has claimed Liverpool signing Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham isn’t automatically going to earn them Champions League qualification.
Speaking on ESPN FC, the former Red asserted Jurgen Klopp’s side are in desperate need of a squad rebuild, and the arrival of the 19-year-old won’t be enough to turn things around.
“When they got battered 3-0, there must have been a little bit of scar tissue for the Liverpool players going into this game,” Hutchison said.
“It’s almost like their thought process is after the back of a 2-1 loss, they can go down the tunnel, they can go into the away dressing room, and they can all sort of say to each other under their own little breath that the gaffer won’t really give me it today because I did okay. That’s not Liverpool standard doing okay, you’ve got to do a lot more than that.
“The problems for Liverpool are not just Trent [Alexander-Arnold], not just Andy Robertson, and not just the midfield. Front men are not scoring goals, there’s injuries galore. They need help.
“And if anyone thinks that Liverpool are going to sign Jude Bellingham tomorrow and he’s going to be the answer, just because you signed Jude Bellingham and [think he will] get Liverpool to the top four, it ain’t gonna happen.
“They need a major rebuild in midfield. Back-line’s not too bad, front men are sensational going forward when they’re all fit. But it’s not just a one-man fix. This is going to take a lot of time.”
Hutchison says Liverpool need a major rebuild
Hutchison is completely right in his assessment here.
Even if Liverpool do get Bellingham in through the door over the summer, there is no guarantee the side will subsequently compete for a spot in the top-four next season.
The BVB star, who’s worth £130m, is a huge step in the right direction for the Reds, but the club need numerous other players if they are to fight with the likes of Manchester City for the Premier League title.
In the midfield specifically, Klopp could do with three new additions. This is in addition to depth needed further across the pitch.
Liverpool’s quality is declining, and FSG aren’t doing anything to change this.
Therefore, things won’t start to look up until the owners finally concede that incoming transfers are imperative to the success of the club.
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