ESPN pundit Craig Burley has issued a surprise revelation that Liverpool must bring in just two new signings if they are to challenge for the Premier League title next season.
The former Chelsea midfielder claimed that following the delay of Nabil Fekir – who stands at 5’6″ (source: Transfermarkt) – moving to Anfield, Liverpool need to consider only a pair of new arrivals if they believe that they can close the gap on Manchester City and win the Premier League in 2018/2019.
“This is typical Liverpool at the moment. But they still need a centre-half and a goalkeeper – that is the next step,” Burley said, as quoted in the Daily Express.
“[They are] not close enough [to Manchester City]. The goalkeeping situation is a problem and the centre-half position. Albeit that improved in the second half of last year, they need a partner for [Virgil] Van Dijk regularly going forward. If they do that, I think they will be close.”
The signing of Fekir – if it does push through – would provide Liverpool new faces in midfield or attack next season, following the transfers of Fabinho and Naby Keita.
Two potential new signings would complete the line up alongside the fearsome forward trio of Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino – and on paper, many would believe that Liverpool are very much capable of the title next season.
Burley told the Daily Express: “This looks great for them going forward, and [there is] absolutely going to be fantastic football again next year no matter who plays.”
OPINION
Burley is right – Liverpool do need at least two more signings to potentially achieve their Premier League dream. Despite playing fantastic football in the 2017/2018 campaign, they always had something missing that made them lose out in the Premier League race to their rivals. They have the goal-scoring knack in the shape of Mo Salah and co, but have regularly been in danger of leaking in important goals that have cost them vital points. Virgil Van Dijk is a solid defender for the Kop, but as Burley says, they need someone alongside him of whom he can strike up an established partnership with. Van Dijk cannot do the job by himself, so Liverpool will have to find him a decent partner to help him provide stability in the Reds back four. As for the goalkeeping situation, it is up to Klopp whether he backs current keeper Loris Karius, but Burley is right in saying that this is a problem that needs to be addressed if they want to bridge the gap between themselves and Manchester City next season.