Liverpool have no chance of winning the Premier League until they make two significant signings, Danny Murphy believes.
It’s been a summer of great change in the Anfield dugout with Arne Slot replacing Jurgen Klopp following the German’s amazing near-nine year spell at the club.
But there’s been little change in the dressing room, with Liverpool the only team in Europe’s top five leagues yet to make a single signing.
The Reds thought they had won the race to sign highly-rated defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi for £51million but the Euro 2024 winner decided against leaving Real Sociedad at the last minute.
And until they buy a world-class defensive midfielder and another top quality defender, Murphy believes Slot and co. won’t be able to challenge the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal for the title.
‘I expect them to be top four, but I don’t think they’ll overcome City. I don’t think [they can win it with this squad],’ the former Liverpool midfielder said on talkSPORT.
‘They would be better [with two new significant signings] – I think a centre-half and a holding midfielder.
‘When you look at the two best teams in the country last year with Rodri and [Declan] Rice, Liverpool don’t have that.
‘And although [Wataru] Endo and [Alexis] MacAllister did well in certain games and certain periods, that consistent person in the middle of the pitch who’s physically dominant and able to control games like those two do, Liverpool don’t really have.
‘They will be hugely disappointed that they didn’t get Zubimendi because they thought that was over the line. That’s unlike Liverpool not to get the deal done.
‘They lost out on [Romeo] Lavia and [Moises] Caicedo last year and now they’ve lost out to Zubimendi as well. It’s not great, especially when they need a player in that position.’
Nevertheless, Murphy is still backing Liverpool to qualify for the Champions League, believing their new boss can get the best out of his young and upcoming stars.
‘If they sign nobody, I still think they’ll improve because of the fact so many of those young players are getting better,’ he added.
‘You’d expect Darwin Nunez to get better and convert more chances. You’d expect the young players like Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones, [Conor] Bradley, [Jarell] Quansah to all have improved with the experience they had last season. All those little things.
‘And keeping players, I mean [Luis] Diaz missed half the season. Diaz is a super talent. Keeping him fit is going to be a big thing.’
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