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Rebuilding Liverpool - Part 2 (long read) In part one three potential targets were identified for the goal keeper position. In part two attention will be turned to central defence and the full backs. Virgil van Dijk had a statistically very good season, even though it was quite plain to anyone watching he was not the dominant force he once was. He features highly in the statistical categories for defenders, with both he and Konate in the top six for duels won (van Dijk is sixth). His success in the air was 74%. Konate had a 70% success rate. In the Premier League central defenders have to be able to win aerial duels, otherwise they will struggle. At Arsenal, Gabriel won 62% of his aerial duels. Marc Guehi at Manchester City won 65% of his aerial duels. Konate and van Dijk remain very powerful in this key area. Additional neither player is often beaten 1v1. Konate has signed a new contract, van Dijk will be good for at least one more season. In addition Giovanni Leoni will return from his cruciate ligament injury in August and Jeremy Jacquet will arrive from Rennes. Jacquet also has a high proportion of aerial duels won (75%) and is rarely beaten 1v1 (only twice all season). With four central defenders available Liverpool should be well stocked but the opportunity to sign central defenders may arise. Marcos Senesi - Bournemouth The 29-year-old Argentine central defender is reported to be available on a free transfer from Bournemouth. Senesi has plenty of Premier League experience having played well over 100 games for Bournemouth. He is much weaker than van Dijk and Konate, winning less than 50% of his aerial duels. However, in possession he is a far greater threat with a high number of ball carries and has created 24 chances for team mates from centre back. He also features highly in other defensive areas, such as tackles, interceptions and blocks. Micky van de Ven - Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham Hotspur have had a terrible season. That does impact the statistics of van de Ven, who only has a 47% aerial duel success. He remains outstanding carrying the ball out of defence and has exceptional recovery pace. He is 6 feet 4 inches, still only 25 years old and has 19 caps for the Netherlands. Arguably van de Ven still has plenty of time and room to develop from an already very good player into an exceptional player. Given the successive poor seasons that Spurs have had, this could be ideal moment to sign him. Central defence is an area where an opportunity might present itself. As such it would not be a priority for any rebuild. The full back area is a different matter. At left back Andy Robertson is leaving after years of outstanding service. Robertson at his peak was a high energy overlapping and underlapping player, capable of delivering an excellent cross and threatening far post crosses, underlined by a memorable goal at against Aston Villa. Defensively, Robertson was reliable 1v1, a good communicator and excellent at covering. Milos Kerkez was signed as his replacement. After initially looking lost his form did improve and he deserves more time to bed in. Kostas Tsimikas will return from loan, meaning that Liverpool will have options at left back. It is right back that is a huge problem. Dominic Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones had to play far too many games at right back in the 25-26 season. Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley suffered badly with injuries, but the bigger issue was new signing Jeremie Frimpong. When central midfielders are being selected ahead of the player who is supposed to be the first choice right back you know there are issues. Frimpong’s success at Leverkusen was as a wing back, not a true right back. No one expected a direct Trent Alexander-Arnold replacement, but a level of competence was certainly expected. Right back has to be a priority. Michael Kayode - Brentford Only 21-years-old, Kayode appears to offer the ideal modern full back option. Physically he would appear to be average for a Premier League defender at 5 feet 10 inches and around 75kg, but one viewing shows that he posses impressive speed, power and aerial ability. He has a very impressive 60% aerial duel success, especially impressive for a full back. This is worth noting as Liverpool have suffered for many years with teams firing long balls into the right back area. Kayode is not the most creative full back option, but he has the pace to overlap and threaten. He also has a dangerous long throw that Brentford have exploited. It would be likely for Brentford to demand quite a high fee. Julian Ryerson - Borrusia Dortmund Ryerson is a far more creative option. Ryerson created 15 goals in the Bundesliga during the 25-26 season. Nine came from set pieces but a still significant six came from open play. He is a an excellent crosser of the ball from wide areas, rather like Alexander-Arnold before he became more of inverted full back for Liverpool. Ryerson produced 67 successful crosses, with a 27% success rate, though this must be tempered by the number of set-piece deliveries He is not as good a defensive option but offers productivity. The potential issue being that Liverpool thought that this was what they were getting when they signed Frimpong. Arnau Martinez - Girona Martinez is a very different full back. Primarily a right back he has also played left back for Girona in the 25-26 season. He created 24 chances without being a primary set piece taker. Martinez rarely crossed the ball, with only 8 successful crosses (16% rate). Martinez has a profile more akin to a midfielder, inverting as a full back. Martinez completed over 1,200 passes with 85% success. He won 56% of his duels and 50% of aerial duels. Martinez could bring back the structural security that was created by Alexander-Arnold inverting alongside the central midfielders. At 23-years-old there is plenty of scope for development. The choice that Liverpool make very much depends on the type of player that they want. Ryerson is potentially more of the same, Kayode is Premier League proven and Martinez is a young player who operates in an inverted style. My Pick Michael Kayode The Premier League experience, defensive solidity and dynamism of one so young pushes my pick towards Kayode. The fee could be quite high, but improving the right back position will be worth the spend. If the budget is not available, Martinez would be my second choice.

Rebuilding Liverpool - Part 1 (long read) Everyone knew Liverpool faced a rebuild. Except… everyone expected it to be last season. Jurgen Klopp had left, Arne Slot had come in. It was clearly time to rebuild. Instead, Slot and the squad won the Premier League title. The core of the Liverpool squad shone. Virgil van Dijk showed that he was aging but still at his best, earning a new contract. Mo Salah did likewise, having a sensational season and earning a blockbuster new deal. Ryan Gravenberch emerged as a holding midfielder. Cody Gakpo had his best season. Then it appeared that Liverpool strengthened, bringing in two new full backs and a bright young central defender. In attack it looked mouth watering. Hot prospect Hugo Ekitike. High class and high quality attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz. Then came consistent, proven, Premier League scorer Alexander Isak. Genuine tragedy struck with the death of Diogo Jota and his brother in the summer of 2025. The impact on the his team mates and the club can not be comprehended. From a playing perspective Liverpool lost a versatile attacker who could operate on the right, the left and through the centre. Jota was a vital part of the balance of the squad. Diogo Jota’s death has to be acknowledged when discussing the Liverpool season and the squad. There is no doubt that it made a difference. Jota’s death is far bigger than wins and losses. Liverpool sold players who were familiar with each other and the system. Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Kelleher and Quansah. Alexander-Arnold left on a free to Real Madrid. What no one expected was that performance levels of certain players would fall through the floor. Salah dropped off dramatically. Cody Gakpo looked a shadow of the player he was in 2024-25. Alexis Mac Allister appeared to be sapped of all energy. Isak would be injured for most of the season. Allison would miss a large number of games and Mamardashvili would unconvincingly fill in. The new full backs struggled to settle, especially Frimpong. It says much about Frimpong that Curtis Jones would play right back even when Frimpong was fully fit. Conor Bradley suffered an injury, hardly featuring. Wirtz had moments of quality but looked lightweight in a Premier League midfield. Ekitike was a bright spark until he also suffered a serious injury. The squad would end the season with question marks everywhere. Just how many new signing would be needed? Which positions should be prioritised? What of the manager? Let’s take a look. Starting with the goalkeeper position. Alisson A world class goalkeeper for such a long time. Liverpool have been lucky to have him. Injuries seem to be plaguing him and Juventus appear ready to sign him. It could be that Alisson is about to move on. Giorgi Mamardashvili Signed after a fantastic Euros for Gerogia and also because Liverpool discovered a release clause in his Valencia contract. Liverpool in the FSG era have always been keen to bring players in below market value or for a price where they could potentially make a resale profit. Mamardashvili has not made any glaring errors. Equally he has not made any match winning saves. It might be unfair to judge him during a season where he has not been the number one and the team has struggled, but with Alisson potentially leaving Liverpool would be wise to look for a goalkeeper, Three Potential Targets Gregor Kobel - Borussia Dortmund Kobel is 28 years old, 6 feet 4 inches tall and approximately 88kg. He immediately brings the size and experience that would increase the chances of success in the Premier League. Although WhoScored suggests he is weak at catching crosses. In the 25-26 Bundesliga season he faced an xG over 40 and conceded 34 goals in 34 games, with zero errors leading to goals. His passing has a 72% success rate and 37% success on long balls. This compares to Alisson’s 79% and 39%. Alisson had a 65% save rate, compared to Kobel’s 72.4%. His expected fee varies between £35 million and £55 million. Bart Verbruggen - Brighton A younger option than Kobel, but with plenty of Premier League experience. Verbruggen is almost identical in size and weight as Kobel (listed as 6 feet 4 and approximately 88kg). He is only 23, but has almost 100 Premier League appearance and passed a quarter century of caps for the Netherlands. Verbruggen conceded 43 goals for Brighton sporting a solid 70% save percentage. The pass completion is 76% and 35% for long passes. A higher asking price would be likely, especially from one Premier League club to another, but there would be the prospect of a player who could improve, play in goal for a decade and still command a fee. Mile Svilar - Roma Svilar has had an excellent season for Roma, with 77% save rate. His high claim numbers are better than both Kobel (18) and Verbruggen (24), with 30 successes, potentially important in a set piece dominated Premier League. Svilar is 6 feet 2 inches tall and 81kg, a little smaller than the other prospects. Svilar did have quite a difficult time at Benfica but has matured at Roma. His overall pass success is 69% but his long pass success is 38%, with over 200 accurate long passes. Vilar is 26 years old and could represent the cheapest of these three options. My Pick Bart Verbruggen The combination of Premier League experience, youth and potential means that Verbruggen is possibly the best choice. Only possibly because Kobel is an experienced goal keeper and generally fees between Bundesliga clubs and Premier League clubs are lower than Premier League to Premier League.

Roger Cross scored for Brentford at Anfield in a League Cup tie (lost 1-2) in 1974. In the Bees last 9 visits (league & cup) he's the only player to score there. A run of LLLLL LLLL It's over 88 years since the previous (league) goal.