After Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest at Anfield, Florian Wirtz said the Reds can do “much better” than they have shown across the opening weeks of the season.
Liverpool have started the campaign with successive 2-2 draws, but away from the fact that four points have been dropped already, it’s concerning to see so many imbalances persisting after Arne Slot was sacked in the summer. Andoni Iraola‘s nascent system will need time to develop, but there’s no question that more parts are needed.
Throwing cash at the transfer market is often not the way, but Liverpool do need to shore up a number of positions with only one day of the window remaining. It’s not been good enough, and sporting director Richard Hughes has fallen on Ismaila Sarr to replace Mohamed Salah after months of having failed to do so.
Why Ismaila Sarr is not the answer for Liverpool
Sarr, Sarr, Sarr. Ever the bane in Liverpool’s backside, and now in with a late-window shout at becoming the new superstar Salah replacement on the right.
|
Ismaila Sarr – Most Goals Scored Against (English sides) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Club |
Apps |
Goals |
|
Aston Villa |
8 |
8 |
|
Liverpool |
10 |
7 |
|
Norwich |
7 |
4 |
|
Brighton |
8 |
3 |
|
Stoke |
4 |
3 |
|
Reading |
4 |
3 |
It’s got a very lukewarm feel about it, this one. The 28-year-old is a proven Premier League star, but he is not world-class, and is not young or malleable enough for Iraola to develop him into something he is not. In that, you can see why the injured Yankuba Minteh of Brighton is Iraola’s preferred choice.
However, that one’s not ideal either, and with recent reports suggesting that Sarr could complete a transfer to Merseyside for around £68m, you have to question whether he is in the same ballpark as someone like Hugo Ekitike, who moved for a similar sum one year ago.
Last season, Sarr scored nine times in the Premier League, assisting one goal besides. Oliver Glasner streamlined the Senegalese star into a focal force, but whether that would be enough for him to prove a success alongside the likes of Bradley Barcola and Alexander Isak is another question.
With Cody Gakpo closing on a £85m move to Manchester City, there’s no question that Liverpool need to add more depth and dynamism out wide. Sarr might not be the perfect solution, but at least he’s a natural right-sider.
Can FSG find an even better signing?
How Liverpool can complete a better signing than Sarr
Liverpool have completed a £120m move for Paris Saint-Germain’s Barcola, and the Reds could have landed themselves a superstar. However, Barcola is not naturally disposed as a right winger, thereby negating him as Salah’s direct replacement.
Well, as per Football Transfers, Liverpool are in late-window talks with the agents of Chelsea winger Pedro Neto over a potential deal. He will be allowed to leave Stamford Bridge if Chelsea’s £75m asking price is met.
That’s no small sum, but given that Palace want £68m for Sarr, it may well be the better deal for the Anfield side to make. Neto kissed the badge after scoring against Brighton at the weekend, but it’s understood that he would be open to pursuing a move to Liverpool.
Neto might not be as clinical a goalscorer as Sarr, but he is the better player, with Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho even hailing him as “one of the best wingers in the world“.
|
Premier League Form 2025/26 |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats (* per 90) |
Neto |
Sarr |
|
Matches (starts) |
34 (30) |
28 (24) |
|
Goals + Assists |
5 + 6 |
9 + 1 |
|
Shots (on target)* |
1.4 (0.4) |
1.7 (0.8) |
|
Accurate passes* |
23.9 (87%) |
12.1 (71%) |
|
Big chances created |
12 |
11 |
|
Key passes* |
1.6 |
0.7 |
|
Possession lost* |
12.4 |
9.8 |
|
Succ. dribbles* |
1.4 |
0.4 |
|
Ball recoveries* |
2.5 |
2.9 |
|
Tackles + interceptions* |
0.8 |
0.9 |
|
Duels won* |
2.9 (45%) |
3.4 (39%) |
But Neto has shown that that level is his baseline, not his ceiling. Across two opening fixtures in Xabi Alonso’s system this season, the Portugal international has showcased improved focus and output in the duel and on the move.
Neto has plenty of Premier League experience under his belt, and he undoubtedly brings more electric-paced running and creativity to the table than Sarr.
When assessing Liverpool’s current problems, and where they need to improve over the coming months, it’s clear that Isak needs more service in the danger area. The Sweden striker is a world-class goalscorer, but he has been starved up top for much of his time at Liverpool.
Let’s think of a scenario: Liverpool’s transfer window ends now, with no further first-team signings made at the eleventh hour. That simply wouldn’t do. Iraola will quickly fall by the wayside without the requisite parts to create balance and synergy coursing from the back to the front.
Neto would be a fantastic addition on the right, bringing the flair and creativity needed to catapult Liverpool back into the ascendancy. Already this season, he has shown that he’s up for scoring a goal or two as well.