Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson has suggested the Reds made a big mistake by allowing Georginio Wijnaldum to leave the club.
Writing in his column for the Daily Mail, the pundit claimed the Merseyside outfit are currently missing the Dutchman’s reliability in the middle of the park.
“A few years ago, I could close my eyes and know exactly where all 11 players would be, especially in midfield,” said Lawrenson. “Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Gini Wijnaldum.
“Now I can’t do that.
“People used to ask what Wijnaldum did. Now we know. He was utterly dependable.
“How many of this team can we say that about right now?”
Lawrenson says Liverpool miss Wijnaldum
During his five-year spell at Anfield, Wijnaldum made 237 appearances for the club.
He was a stalwart in Liverpool’s midfield, as he never really sustained any serious injuries whilst on Merseyside.
The Netherlands international was always there to win the ball back in the middle of the park, with the ability to recycle possession and launch counterattacks.
However, since Wijnaldum left the club in 2021, the Reds have never truly replaced him.
They have never brought in a like-for-like player, and that profile is evidently needed in Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI.
Having been hailed as ‘sensational’ by the German manager, he obviously misses the 32-year-old too.
Therefore, the club need to sign a ball-winning number eight in the summer.