Liverpool find themselves facing a noticeable shortage of options across several positions just three weeks before the start of the Premier League campaign, and the prospect of adding further signings this summer looks increasingly remote. The immediate focus for the club is to secure a high‑profile wide attacker, with reports suggesting that manager Andoni Iraola will soon reach out to Paris Saint‑Germain to negotiate the acquisition of Bradley Barcola. While that pursuit dominates the headlines, deeper concerns are emerging about the overall balance of the squad, especially in defence, as the new head coach prepares for his inaugural season at Anfield.
A recent setback has amplified these worries: centre‑back Joe Gomez suffered a knock that will keep him out of the opening fixture against Newcastle United. With Gomez sidelined, the only senior, fully fit central defender available is Virgil van Dijk.
The club’s summer investment, 21‑year‑old Jeremy Jacquet, arrived from Rennes for a reported £60 million and is expected to partner van Dijk, but he has yet to feature in any pre‑season match. Jacquet is still recovering from a shoulder problem that has kept him out since February, and his fitness timeline remains uncertain. Adding to the defensive dilemma is the situation of 19‑year‑old Giovanni Leoni, who currently occupies the fourth‑choice centre‑back slot. Leoni is still undergoing rehabilitation after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament on his Liverpool debut in the Carabao Cup against Southampton last September.
At this stage, neither Jacquet nor Leoni have been cleared to train fully, leaving the club with a very thin pool of central‑defensive options. Despite the centre‑back shortage, Liverpool’s transfer strategy does not appear to be shifting because of Gomez’s injury.
The club views his absence as a short‑term issue and remains committed to pursuing a marquee wide forward to fill the void left by Mohamed Salah’s departure. The priority, therefore, stays firmly on the wing.
In the meantime, Iraola has been rotating several academy prospects in pre‑season, including Luke Chambers, Ifeanyi Ndukwe and Mor Talla Ndiaye, to see if any could step up alongside van Dijk for the season‑opening match. Another name that has surfaced is Ryan Gravenberch, who has occasionally filled in at centre‑back during his time at Liverpool, offering a possible emergency solution. Complicating matters further, van Dijk did not travel to the United States for the pre‑season tour after his World Cup break, meaning there will be limited time for any partner to develop an on‑field understanding with him before the first league game. This lack of continuity could be a tactical risk for Iraola.
The right‑back position presents a similar conundrum. While the club expects Conor Bradley to return from a serious knee injury, Iraola has warned that Bradley could be months away from full fitness. In the short term, Jeremie Frimpong has been tried in the role, but his performances have been mixed, as he often seems over‑burdened with defensive duties.
Previously, Arne Slot had resorted to using Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai as makeshift right‑backs when Bradley was unavailable, and Gomez has also been deployed there on occasion. However, using Gomez at right‑back would further stretch the already limited centre‑back options, so the club is unlikely to pursue that route. At present, signing a dedicated right‑back does not rank high on Liverpool’s transfer agenda. The focus remains on securing a wide forward who can replicate Salah’s impact.
Victor Muñoz, who arrived from Celta Vigo, is a young talent at 23, but he lacks the experience and star power required to fill Salah’s shoes on his own. There is a lively debate among fans and pundits about whether Barcola, the player Liverpool are poised to target, is the appropriate replacement.
Barcola is naturally left‑footed, whereas Salah predominantly operated on the right. Muñoz, like Barcola, can play on either flank but has spent most of his career on the left side. Consequently, Liverpool’s current winger pool—Muñoz, Rio Ngumoha, Cody Gakpo and the potential Barcola—tends to favour one side, leaving a genuine right‑wing successor to Salah missing.
Federico Chiesa has been mentioned as an alternative, yet his future remains uncertain, and his availability for a summer move is doubtful. The club’s philosophy under Iraola appears to be that all wide players must be capable of operating on both flanks, a flexibility that was a key factor in signing Muñoz earlier in the window. Ngumoha has already been used on the right in pre‑season, suggesting he could fill the gap if needed. Tottenham have expressed interest in Gakpo, but Liverpool would only consider selling him if they felt they had secured a suitable replacement.
Gakpo brings considerable Premier League experience, and his departure would strip Liverpool of the only seasoned wide player with a proven track record in the English top flight. Moreover, Gakpo can also serve as a backup striker, a role that becomes more valuable as Hugo Ekitike continues his Achilles rehabilitation and questions linger over Alexander Isak’s durability. Midfield depth is another area of concern.
Gravenberch’s emergence as a deep‑lying playmaker last season reduced the urgency of bringing in a dedicated holding midfielder, yet the campaign’s recent performances have highlighted a need for additional options in that zone. Inter Milan have shown interest in Curtis Jones, but their valuation does not meet Liverpool’s expectations, especially in a market where comparable Premier League midfielders command premium fees. Should Jones depart, academy graduate Trey Nyoni, who impressed with two Carabao Cup starts last season, could be thrust into a larger role. The overall sentiment among supporters is that the squad is "bare‑bones" and that the club must act swiftly to reinforce the defence, midfield and wing positions.
Fan comments circulating on social media echo this frustration, calling for immediate signings of a right‑back, a centre‑half, a number 6 midfielder and two quality wingers. Some fans even suggest exploring loan options, such as a temporary deal for Trent Alexander‑Arnold, to plug the defensive gaps.
In summary, Liverpool enter the new season with a clear set of deficiencies: a thin centre‑back line, an uncertain right‑back solution, a midfield that could benefit from a robust number 6, and a lack of a natural right‑wing replacement for Salah. While the club’s primary target remains a marquee wide forward—potentially Barcola—addressing these other areas will likely become a priority as the transfer window progresses, especially if early-season injuries expose the current lack of depth. The success of Iraola’s first season will hinge not only on the performance of the new signings but also on how quickly the existing squad can adapt to the gaps that have emerged during pre‑season.