Liverpool do not have what it takes to take the Premier League title of Manchester City – unless they sign players in two key positions.
That is according to former Reds midfielder and talkSPORT pundit Danny Murphy, who has weighed in on his former club’s prospects for the upcoming season.
Liverpool were in contention for the title last season up until a decisive 2-0 defeat to Merseyside rivals Everton in April all-but killed their hopes.
Now, they will hope to challenge for the title again when their 2024/25 Premier League campaign gets underway on Saturday.
They travel to face newly-promoted Ipswich Town at 12:30pm, live on talkSPORT.
It will be the first competitive test for new manager Arne Slot, as he looks to replicate the good form that the side have shown during their pre-season friendlies.
However, while the team have looked impressive on the pitch over the summer, their transfer window has certainly not been quite as exciting.
Liverpool remain the only club yet to have made any signings over the summer transfer window.
And although there is still time to go before deadline day on August 30, Murphy has warned that the club do not look capable of wrestling the title off of defending champions City with their existing personnel.
“Well the window’s not closed,” told talkSPORT. “And the reality is Liverpool’s transfer business over the last five-six years has been excellent. I expect them to be top four, but I don’t think they’ll overcome City.
“They can’t win it with this squad can they? I don’t think so.
“They’ll be better, of course they would. Significant new signings – yeah, I think a centre-half and a holding midfielder.
5
5
“When you look at the two best teams in the country last year with Rodri and [Declan] Rice, Liverpool don’t have that.
“And although [Wataru] Endo and [Alexis] MacAllister did well in certain games and certain periods, that consistent person in the middle of the pitch who’s physically dominant and able to control games like those two do, Liverpool don’t really have.”
Liverpool’s lack of signings has not been entirely intentional given that they had meant to sign one midfielder already this summer.
But they were dealt a huge blow when Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi opted not to go through with a move to the Premier League.
And while Murphy does not believe Liverpool’s lack of signings overall to be a huge worry in itself, he did admit the Zubimendi affair may have hurt the club.
“You can’t judge a team signings till the window’s closed,” he remarked. “Big signings and real high quality players sometimes take a while to get over the line.
“You know what the domino effect does in the transfer market, we’ve seen it many, many times.
“One big one goes from somewhere that knocks on, they will be hugely disappointed that they didn’t get Zubimendi because I think they thought that was over the line.
“They lost out to [Romeo] Lavia and [Moises] Caicedo last year and now they’ve lost out to Zubimendi as well. It’s not great, especially when they need a player in that position.”
Liverpool indeed suffered a double blow when midfield duo Caicedo and Lavia both ended up signing for Chelsea, despite hopes that they would be the newest members at Anfield.
The former later explained in an interview with Sky Sports that it had been because the Reds had contacted him ‘too late’ in the day for him to change his mind.
5
Meanwhile sources reported that Lavia changed his mind because Liverpool had made him feel like he was not a priority for them.
As it is, Liverpool will have to now have to look elsewhere in their search for a new No6 – and they do not have long to do it.
But it is not all bad news for Reds supporters.
Because while Murphy believes Liverpool will be unlikely to clinch the league title this season with their current squad, he did predict marked progress within their ranks.
5
“If they sign nobody, I still think they’ll improve because of the fact so many of those young players are getting better,” he admitted.
“You’d expect Darwin Nunez to get better and convert more chances. You’d expect the young players like Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones, [Conor] Bradley, [Jarell] Quansah to all have improved with the experience they had last season. All those little things.
“So hopefully, yes. And keeping players, I mean [Luis] Diaz missed half the season. Diaz is a super talent. Keeping him fit is going to be a big thing.”