Liverpool's center-back crisis deepens with multiple injuries

Liverpool's new manager Andoni Iraola is facing immediate defensive headaches due to a lengthy injury list, particularly at the crucial center-back position. The situation has become dire just before the English league season kicks off.

Joe Gomez, one of the team's defenders, suffered an injury just seven minutes into Liverpool's first preseason match against Sunderland, a setback described by Iraola as "the clearly worst news." This adds to the existing problems with recent signings Jérémy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni, both of whom are also dealing with long-term injuries. Jacquet, acquired in the winter for approximately 70 million euros, is expected to return towards the end of the preseason, while Leoni, who joined last summer, has a more uncertain return date after a serious knee injury.

Football expert Pål-André Helland emphasized the urgent need for the club to sign a new center-back, stating, "They must have a stopper." He also expressed doubts about whether Jacquet or Leoni can meet the high standards of the Premier League upon their return, noting the significant jump from French football to England's top tier. Arve Vassbotten, editor-in-chief of liverpool.no, agreed that at least one center-back is necessary, ideally an experienced player, especially since Ibrahima Konaté departed for Real Madrid on a free transfer. Vassbotten, however, believes the age of potential new signings is not a barrier, citing young Spanish successes in the World Cup and the presence of Virgil van Dijk as a leader.

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Så lenge man har van Dijk der har man en rett leder for spillerne. Man trenger ikke være gammel og rutinert for å være god stopper.