QuarterScotProcrastinator

White people are now demonstrably the biggest victims of racism in Britain.

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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.