Liverpool have bid farewell to Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson, with the fan base embracing Andoni Iraola as their new head coach, replacing Arne Slott, who was sacked earlier this month.
It’s certainly been a roller coaster season for the Reds. Their defense of the Premier League title could only be described as disastrous, but they won the Champions League in the final match of the season against Brentford at Anfield and took one point.
Not since the final days of Brendan Rodgers’ tenure have Liverpool been so out of form and unable to maintain their top-flight status.
Brendan Rodgers vs Liverpool’s Arne Slott | ||
|---|---|---|
Rogers (14/15) | # | Slot (25/26) |
38 | match | 38 |
18 | victory | 17 |
8 | draw | 9 |
12 | loss | 12 |
52 | Number of points scored | 63 |
48 | Number of goals conceded | 53 |
62 (1.63) | Points (PPM) | 60 (1.58) |
It goes without saying that a lot needs to change and Liverpool are expecting a lot of noise throughout the summer transfer window.
Liverpool lead the race to sign Premier League stars
Yann Diomand is at the top of FSG’s buying list, but he is not the only up-and-coming talent to catch the attention of Richard Hughes. Indeed, there is no guarantee that Liverpool will complete a nine-figure move for the RB Leipzig winger.
Slott left Liverpool with the team in disarray, if not dissolution. The midfield is damaged and the backline is full of holes. Now, Ibrahima Konate has been stripped of that right and Iraola has the job of making everything right.
It’s clear that Liverpool are putting a lot of effort into filling in for Mohamed Salah and supporting Alexander Isak and young Rio Ngmoja in dangerous areas, but the likes of Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenbirch have also been woefully out of form.
According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are interested in signing Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, who has been one of Iraola’s key cogs in recent years, this summer. Indeed, it is understood they are leading the race now that Iraola is in the dugout.
Bournemouth value the England international at £80 million. This is definitely a steep slope, but Scott is the real deal and he will fit into Iraora’s system like a glove. In a big boost for the Reds, the report even states that he is open to reuniting with the Spanish tactician at Anfield.
Liverpool could do worse to their budding superstar than their Premier League rivals.
Why Alex Scott could work for Iraola at Liverpool
Scott is only 22 but is already a veteran member of Bournemouth’s set-up. And this season he won the club’s Supporter of the Year award.
There’s a lot to like about him, and that’s not even considering the qualities he’s honed under Iraola in recent years. Described as a “special talent” by Cherries team-mate Lewis Cook, he could be the key to revitalizing Liverpool’s sluggish midfield in his second year in the slot.
Scott was called up to England’s squad ahead of the World Cup by manager Thomas Tuchel. Like Rio Ngmoja. In fact, Liverpool could secure themselves the next version of Ngmoha in Scott. The Scot is a rare and sought-after English talent who is desperate to reach the top of the Premier League.
Fans thought Ngmoha had set the tone for the season when he turned up at St James’ Park in August and scored the winning goal in the last minute to preserve Liverpool’s winning start. he was 16 years old.
However, Ngmoha has struggled to earn consistent playing time under Slott, and perhaps the fact that he outperformed his seniors when given more chances in the final months may have influenced FSG’s decision to make the switch. In Iraora, Liverpool are hoping for a bigger wave of young quality to hit the Anfield pitch, with players like Ngmoha and Scott potentially leading the charge.
Both players have proven that if they’re good enough, they’re old enough. Scott is no longer a teenage prospect, but an established midfielder in the Premier League, although he is only 22 and has made 89 appearances in three seasons for Iraola.
Of course, the Cherries midfielder is by no means inexperienced. This year, he started 34 Premier League games as Iraola manager, and showed signs of being a nuisance, especially in midfield, entering dangerous areas, winning five duels, and recovering the ball an average of 5.3 times each game.
Scott is a technical craftsman whose underlying physicality is deceptive. He would be the perfect addition to complete Liverpool’s midfield rebuild, partnering Dominik Szoboszlai and showcasing his grace in support of Grabenberch.
Liverpool need to get this done before one of their rivals snaps him up.
Better than Mac Allister: Liverpool begin talks with Man United for £80m
Liverpool need to strengthen their midfield this summer.
