During the TNT Sports panel for Liverpool’s Champions League clash with PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday, Steven Gerrard was reluctant to say Arne Slot’s side were in crisis.
But after being eliminated 4-1 by the Dutch of Peter Bosz, it is difficult to say anything, even to the limit of the contrary. It was Liverpool’s ninth defeat in 12 matches in all competitions, and the crisis – yes, the crisis – is deepening.
The most worrying thing is that there is so much talent on this team. Liverpool is full of elite talent. But synergy and confidence are lacking at Anfield.
Slot firmly believes he can break out of this rut with the tools at his disposal, but sporting director Richard Hughes is nonetheless preparing for a January signing.
Who Liverpool should sign in January
There has been a lot of talk about the need for a central defender at Liverpool. It’s true. Although Real Madrid have ended their interest in Ibrahima Konate, the Reds are still short of full-back after missing out on Marc Guehi last summer.
However, Slot suggested Liverpool had another area in mind with their front line so unbalanced this season.
According to i News, Liverpool are leading the race for Bournemouth striker Antoine Semenyo, following initial inquiries, with David Ornstein previously confirming the Reds’ interest and that the Ghanaian winger has a £65m release clause in his contract which comes into effect in January.
Semenyo is also courting intrigue at Manchester City, but Liverpool believe they have a good chance of bringing him to Anfield after opting not to sign a like-for-like replacement for Luis Diaz this summer.
What Semenyo would offer Liverpool
It is promising to note the gradual progress Semenyo has made since joining Bournemouth from Bristol City in the Championship for around £10.5 million in January 2023.
Last season he was praised for reaching “another level” in the Premier League by teammate Lewis Cook, growing into his own skin under the tutelage of Andoni Iraola, who was instrumental in the Cherries’ 56 points.
Fierce and powerful, he has only improved since the summer, scoring six goals and three assists in his first 11 division matches this season.
There’s a lot more to the 25-year-old’s game than just goal contributions, but he still managed to score more than any of his teammates at the Vitality Stadium.
|
Most G/A for Andoni Iraola at Bournemouth |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Goals + Passes |
Total AG |
|
Antoine Sémenyo |
27 + 13 |
40 |
|
Justin Kluivert |
23 + 11 |
34 |
|
Dominique Solanke |
21 + 4 |
25 |
|
Marc Tavernier |
10 + 11 |
21 |
|
Evanilson |
13 + 6 |
19 |
|
Dates via Transfermarkt |
||
His talismanic qualities and “world-class” form, as another teammate, Justin Kluivert, put it, underline Semenyo’s suitability at Liverpool, especially as his pace, power and burgeoning prolificacy have led Reds analyst Josh Williams to dub him “the closest you can get to hitting Mané at the moment”.
This, along with Semenyo’s ability to play the big game, suggests he could be one of the Anfield side’s best signings in a long time, perhaps even since £60million was paid to RB Leipzig to bring in Dominik Szoboszlai from Germany.
Szoboszlai has had his ups and downs in a Liverpool shirt but has emerged as a midfield superstar this season, stepping up and becoming a leader among men while applying his tireless energy and keen technical skills at a time when struggling Liverpool desperately need it.
Liverpool’s Hungarian general is a masterful midfielder, considered the team’s best player this season; it’s not even close.
Although a completely different type of player than Semenyo, they share an athletic resemblance and have both established themselves as leading figures on their respective teams.
If Liverpool can both add balance to their squad while also infusing the squad with more in-form ability than has been shown this year, it will only be a good thing as Slot, Szoboszlai and the rest fight to pull the club out of the ditch they have slipped into.
Such a signing could be a catalyst for change, and at a relatively sensible £65 million figure, Semenyo could well prove to be one of Liverpool’s best signings in several years.
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