Liverpool: Defense Both Weak and Thin, Attack Unstable

Although the Premier League season is still nearly a month away, Andoni Iraola is already facing a series of personnel challenges at Liverpool. The defense is thin and lacks depth, while a clear replacement for Mohamed Salah on the right flank has yet to be found.

Liverpool and Arsenal are the two quietest teams among the Big Six so far. While Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Tottenham have all made their mark on the transfer market with notable signings, the Anfield club has yet to bring in any major "blockbuster" deals.

Defense: Both Thin and Weak

It is not difficult for Iraola to identify the position that needs reinforcement most urgently: the defense, not the midfield or attack. The personnel crisis in the backline became even more apparent when Joe Gomez suffered an injury in a friendly against Sunderland. This is the ninth injury for the 29-year-old center-back since the 2023-24 season. Constantly being sidelined by injuries has sharply reduced Gomez's number of starts in the Premier League.

Without Gomez, Liverpool's options at center-back become even more limited. Ibrahima Konate joined Real Madrid on a free transfer after last season ended, reuniting with Trent Alexander-Arnold. Virgil van Dijk is still resting after the 2026 World Cup, while age has also made it difficult for the 35-year-old Dutch captain to maintain the same high-intensity workload as before.

Iraola currently has only two center-backs available: newcomers Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni. However, neither has yet provided much reassurance. Jacquet has not played since February due to a shoulder injury. Although Iraola is eager to debut the £55 million signing as soon as possible, he must closely monitor the player's physical condition. At the earliest, Jacquet may return to the pitch only in the friendly against Leeds early next month.

Leoni also brings similar concerns. The Italian center-back missed the entire previous season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in his Liverpool debut during the League Cup last September. Even if both Jacquet and Leoni are fit, Iraola can hardly place full trust in a center-back pairing that has never played in the Premier League.

In the short term, Liverpool will likely have to promote young center-backs like Mor Talla Ndiaye or Ifeanyi Ndukwe to the first team to fill the squad for friendlies, while waiting for the defensive lineup to stabilize.

Who Will Fill the Void Left by Salah?

Adding another center-back is certainly Liverpool's top priority, especially since both Van Dijk and Gomez will see their contracts expire next summer. However, the Anfield club cannot ignore the task of finding a replacement for Mohamed Salah on the right flank.

Yan Diomande of Leipzig was once considered a potential target, but the striker is now very close to Real Madrid. Liverpool has therefore shifted focus to Bradley Barcola of PSG. Barcola himself is willing to move to Anfield for more starting opportunities, but PSG will only sit down at the negotiating table if they receive a bid of at least £140 million.

At the center-forward position, Iraola also has plenty to worry about. Hugo Ekitike is still recovering from the ACL tear he suffered in April, with no return date set. Alexander Isak has just finished his post-2026 World Cup vacation with the Swedish national team. One of Iraola's key tasks will be to help the striker regain top form after a disappointing first season marked by repeated injuries. Alongside Isak, Florian Wirtz and Ryan Gravenberch will also soon join up with Liverpool.

So far, Liverpool has spent over £90 million to bring in Jacquet and Victor Munoz. That is clearly not enough for Iraola to have the necessary squad to rebuild the team after a disappointing season under Arne Slot. The Spanish manager still needs at least two or three more quality signings to strengthen both the defense and attack.