Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon
Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon (Image: Newcastle United via Getty Images)
The next stop on Liverpool's Premier League title bid takes them to St. James' Park for a midweek clash under the lights with Newcastle United. Arne Slot's attacking options have every reason to be full of confidence, providing the head coach with a headache as is, so just imagine the balancing act he would have on his hands had Anthony Gordon been added to his personnel.
There was a time in summer where for Liverpool that seemed like an almighty possibility. Euro 2024 was centre stage, Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) was the phrase of the month, the transfer window was opening, and the changing of the guard at Anfield presented a picture of uncertainty over how the squad would develop under new stewardship.
Gordon was the first major story to emerge - a potential £45m swap deal involving Joe Gomez, actually offered by the reluctant Magpies as they were crippled by PSR before being able to enact their own recruitment plans.
Related Articles
Phil Foden double message after Liverpool speaks volumes as crumbling Man City exposed
Federico Chiesa has already proven Arne Slot right - but he can't avoid Liverpool sliding doors moment
The Daily Mail suggest this was the 'talk of the England camp' over in Germany, with Trent Alexander-Arnold apparently singing that the left winger from Kirkdale was 'coming home, coming home'. He never would, as Newcastle secured the revenue they needed through sales of fringe talent.
With the benefit of hindsight, just consider the disastrous consequences that could have fallen into place had Gordon arrived back on Merseyside.
The former Everton youth would have been battling with Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo for a place in Slot's starting line-up.
First, the Colombian has truly become the player Liverpool hoped he would be when arriving from FC Porto in January 2022. Nine goals and two assists in all competitions, with five of those contributions decisive, and a first Champions League hat-trick playing as a newly-discovered central forward option.
Diaz's ability to play there has allowed Gakpo to take up the role the masses expected him to before Jurgen Klopp had placed him through the middle, rather than the position he is always plays to devastating consequences for opponents of the Netherlands.
The Dutchman has also flourished as a result, scoring the latest two of his 10 total goal contributions for the season in home victories against Real Madrid and Manchester City.
That meeting with Pep Guardiola's men, which was the culmination of the Reds' brilliant work so far this season to move 11 points ahead of the reigning champions and nine points ahead of second place, also saw Gomez start his first league match since the 3-3 draw at Aston Villa in the penultimate fixture of last season.
The 27-year-old was imperious up against Erling Haaland, and had he exited in order to allow Gordon to join, then Slot would have been relying on 21-year-old Jarell Quansah for that match and those to come this month - might it be added with no additional central defensive cover?
By no means does this suggest Gordon, with a high ceiling of his own, could never have hit the ground running at Anfield. The position the club find itself in entering the festive period is just astounding, with all three squad members explored here most likely to have been impacted by the Newcastle man's arrival.
Even though it was not Liverpool's fault he did not come, he might feel he has a point to prove on Wednesday night against the Reds. It will be a joy to see the 23-year-old embrace that challenge against the league's best defence.
The Mail's latest report says Anfield chiefs retain their interest, though regardless of any damage he could inflict this midweek there are two clear hurdles in the way.
A first is his new Tyneside contract. Gordon renewed terms in October as Newcastle presented a show of faith, perhaps in the knowledge that they had tarnished their player's dream. Now he is committed to remain there until he is 29-years-old, in 2030, and no doubt would cost way beyond his worth.
A second hurdle is the fact neither Diaz nor Gakpo actually need replacing. Unless the situation of the 27-year-old or 25-year-old alter drastically in the upcoming transfer windows, there should be little sleep lost over the lack of Gordon in this strong Liverpool team.
Even after both are long gone, lastly 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha should be staking his claim to a place in the senior squad on that left attacking flank in years to come, based on his Academy performances since signing from Chelsea this summer. For Gordon, this is just the unfortunate way events have fallen into place.