OPINION
The title race between Liverpool and Manchester City is promising to be one of the best ever following Thursday’s thrilling clash at Etihad Stadium.
Jurgen Klopp’s side slipped to their first defeat of the season but demonstrated they are a force to be reckoned with as Pep Guardiola’s side had to play to their absolute max to secure the three points.
Klopp has assembled a squad for all seasons following outstanding recruitment over the last three years, with the club’s net spend since 2014 one of the lowest in the Premier League.
Most bases are covered at Anfield, and the manager demonstrated how happy he is with the resources at his disposal by sanctioning the exits of England internationals Dominic Solanke and Nathaniel Clyne on Friday, the former on a permanent deal and the latter on loan.
One area where Liverpool appear to be short is in terms of an alternative to their excellent, super-swift and nimble front three Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.
The back-ups Xherdan Shaqiri and Daniel Sturridge are also technically excellent footballers but of a similar ilk, if not as quick and potentially devastating.
What Liverpool need is a colossus who can link the play and provide something different to defences who camp deep and keep their main men at bay.
The ideal man would be West Ham spearhead Marko Arnautovic, who has been outstanding since being used in a central role over the last 12 months.
The big Austrian would likely cost around £40million and might not have much in the way of the re-sale value that Liverpool’s recruitment chiefs put such great store in, given he turns 30 in April.
He is also unlikely to usurp Salah, Mane and Firmino from the starting XI, initially, at least.
But Arnautovic would be a brilliant bench option and also take some off the burden off the others. He is a far from a stereotypical target man, too,
The 77-times international, who has scored 18 goals in 51 West Ham matches, has skill, a great touch and can bring others into play, as well as score plenty of goals.
His height and power also provide something different, and mean that even strapping defenders bounce back off him.
Liverpool should use the £19million rising to a potential £25million Solanke money to part-fund a big-money January swoop for Arnautovic.
They can romp all the way to the title if a deal is done.