The ECHO’s Liverpool FC correspondent Paul Gorst has answered your questions ahead of the 2023/24 season.
After the quick double capture of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, the gossip columns have not stopped guessing who could be the next player through the doors of the AXA Training Centre. Speaking in a special question and answer session, Paul was on hand to provide updates on Southampton’s Romeo Lavia, Levi Colwill as well as Thiago Alcantara.
Read the full transcript of Paul’s Q&A with ECHO readers below.
No official proposals for Henderson or Thiago
Q: “Hey Gorsty! I hope you are well and thank you for doing this! What do you think of the chances of us signing Lavia & Colwill now?! Do [LFC] have alternatives to Colwill, especially as Mikey VdV seems to be on his way to Spurs and you guys have reported that we’re not that interested, if at all, in Inacio?! Finally some ‘big names/first team players’ will leave this summer with the media speculating about Fab, Jordan Henderson & Thiago?!”
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Paul Gorst: “As for Colwill, I’m not paying much attention to a big shortlist in the same way that the midfield revamp has been. I was recently assured by no means that Inacio is not on it at least. There is a feeling that Liverpool’s name is being used to generate interest I think a lot depends on what Liverpool plan to do in the long term with their formation.
“I’m not convinced there’s a 100% need for a new centre-back if they stick with a back-four all season, but another left-back will be if they go back to 3-4-3 in the recent months Lavia leads the midfield list at the moment, I know Benfica’s Florentino Luis has his admirers but things have gone quiet on that point.
“I don’t see Henderson leaving, a lot depends for Thiago on his own wishes, but the feeling is that he wants to stay. No official proposals for either player at the moment.”
More business to do?
Q: “Do you feel Liverpool’s transfer business is done for the window? We see connections with a number of players across England and Europe outside of the likes of Lavia and co. Is there any credibility in Inacio and Perr Schuurs for defensive options?”
PG: “I don’t think Liverpool’s business is done yet. Nor should it be. This has already been the highest summer in five years, but there is more to come. I am told there is no interest in Inacio at Sporting. Per Schuurs is an interesting one, still a young player who was part of the exciting Ajax team that emerged in recent years. But I think he only moved to Torino last year.
“I definitely think another centre-back is needed if Klopp sticks with that formation from the last two months of the season.”
Best position for Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis MacAllister?
Q: “With the signings of Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister, putting on your Jurgen Klopp cap, where do you see them fitting into the system?
“Could TAA’s move into midfield possibly hinder any uptake in midfield or do we expect him to play in his traditional position in the hybrid role we saw at the back end of the season?”
PG: “Yes, I think they both give Liverpool’s midfield a fresh, lively look. It will be interesting to see where they both fit in. I think Mac Allister can take the left and Szoboszlai will take the right , almost like two No. 8s. That then leaves Klopp with the option of either two behind them or just the one. Fabinho and Henderson can give it a more solid look, but the prospect of leaving Alexander-Arnold in there has to be an enticing option as well .
“It’s an exciting time for Liverpool’s midfield, but I still think a new No. 6 is needed. I’m not entirely convinced about Fabinho and where his current level is long-term.”
Which youngsters get the chance to impress in pre-season?
Q: “Just curious which youngsters you think will get big opportunities this pre-season, the likes of Van Den Berg and Morton will get the chance to prove they are ready for a first team place.
“Also, which youngsters are you personally looking forward to seeing and who do you think will have a bright pre-season?
PG: “I think Van den Berg will have another loan spell away from the club and the engine room is a bit tight now for Morton. I imagine he will be assessed during pre-season but another loan may be on the way, maybe even somewhere further down the Premier League.Matt Newberry is overseeing the loans this summer so it will be interesting to see where the Reds go.
“I think Ben Doak will be an exciting player to watch, although he will probably be reserved for the domestic cup game. It will also be great to see Kaide Gordon back in action after almost 18 months on the sidelines. Easy to forget , that he started a League Cup semi-final at Arsenal and scored in the FA Cup last season.”
Lack of defensive balance?
Q: “I’m still worried about the defensive balance in our midfield with or without Lavia.
“Lavia has a lot of potential and he has legs, but defensive positioning and the compactness of our shape is what I’m most worried about. At our best we weren’t just pressing monsters, we were compact without the ball, we were in able to keep our shape I feel like a lot of attention has gone into our pressing and just being able to keep our shape and close spaces.
“What do you think is the best solution to this?”
PG: “Liverpool’s midfield was bypassed too easily and too often last season, so it was paramount to make it a stronger, more resilient department. I think a lot depends on Fabinho’s ability to reproduce the form of his first two or three seasons with the Reds.. … Is his drop off a permanent thing now or was his blip just that?
“We’ll know more as the season goes on I guess. He was overworked last season by the struggles elsewhere around him from the likes of Henderson, Thiago and Elliott, so with a full and fit crop of midfielders – helped by the arrivals of Szoboszlai and Mac Allister – the hope will be that it is a new-look midfield that is back to its best.
“Would like to see another defensive specialist recruited though. I’m still not convinced Fabinho is ‘out of the woods’ so to speak.”