The Reds' midfield has been crucial to their success this season, having previously targeted Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia
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Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch of Liverpool embrace after the draw during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield
Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch of Liverpool embrace after the draw during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield
(Image: 2024 Liverpool FC)
When Liverpool last travelled to Chelsea, they did so without a holding midfielder. The Reds were halfway through their £150m midfield revamp, having already signed Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, but had yet to recruit a new number six after the unexpected exits of both Jordan Henderson and Fabinho heading into the new season.
Jurgen Klopp started what would prove to be his final campaign in charge of the Reds at Stamford Bridge, 630 days ago, with something of a makeshift engine-room.
Mac Allister debuted out of position at number six - though he would become accustomed to such a role as the season went on - with Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo stationed either side.
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Admittedly, injuries had forced Klopp’s hand to turn to the Argentine. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones had both been utilised as holding midfielders during pre-season, but a back injury suffered by Conor Bradley resulted in the Reds vice-captain being restored to his natural position.
Meanwhile, a knock suffered by Jones saw him reduced to only substitute duty as Klopp turned to square pegs in round holes.
Yet it was not through lack of trying. Liverpool’s trip to Chelsea of course came at a time when sides were squabbling over midfielders Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia.
The Reds considered Southampton’s value of the young Belgian too steep after a number of rejected bids, so switched targets and saw a club-record £111m bid for the Ecuadorian accepted by Brighton & Hove Albion.
Yet having previously appeared open to the move to Anfield, Caicedo then made it clear he only wished to join Chelsea while Liverpool were left waiting for him to attend a medical. He would eventually join his West London long-term admirers in a deal worth up to £115m.
To add insult to injury, the Londoners then agreed a deal to sign Lavia with Southampton. And while the Reds would belatedly have an offer accepted by the Saints, by this point the Belgian also had his heart set on Chelsea as he completed a £58m move to Stamford Bridge.
Liverpool’s loss was Chelsea’s gain, but as we know now the Reds have had the last laugh.
They would go on to complete the surprise signing of Wataru Endo from VfB Stuttgart in a £16.2m deal, before landing Ryan Gravenberch in a £40m swoop from Bayern Munich.
While both players took their time to adapt to English football, the Japanese soon flourished under Klopp as both players helped Liverpool beat Chelsea in last year’s League Cup final. And while he might not be a starter under Arne Slot, he has been crucial when it comes to helping his side see out games.
Meanwhile, the Dutchman went on to become one of the Reds’ stars of the season this year under Slot - starting every Premier League in their title-winning campaign.
Gravenberch could of course lose such status on Sunday, when Liverpool travel to Stamford Bridge, with Slot confirming he intends to rotate in the final month of the campaign now that the Reds have clinched the title. If so, Endo is best-placed to be rewarded with a rare start at number six.
Regardless, it is somewhat ironic that Liverpool will receive their first guard of honour as Premier League champions from a Chelsea side including both Caicedo and Lavia.
If either player had had different thoughts in August 2023, they could perhaps now call themselves Premier League champions.
Instead, they will be left just watching on and applauding as Slot’s Liverpool walk out, be it with Gravenberch or Endo who start at number six. The Reds will have no regrets as the two benefactors of such transfer dealings inadvertently rub salt in the wounds.
Their £150m revamp only came about after they decided a move for Jude Bellingham would prove too costly, realising they needed multiple new additions in midfield in the summer of 2023.
And former Chelsea star Chris Sutton has pointed out how such a transfer twist of fate has now proven decisive for the Reds now winning the Premier League.
“Not signing Bellingham in 2023 was a crucial decision [in Liverpool's title win],” Sutton said on the It’s All Kicking Off! podcast. “Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, and Dominik Szoboszlai, those three midfield players have been a constant. They were essential for Liverpool this season.
“The furore around Liverpool and Bellingham, whether he would go there or not, and then choosing Real Madrid – it's all worked in their favour.”
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Klopp had said similar when alluding to both Caicedo and Lavia at the new Anfield Road test event in December 2023.
“In the summer, the summer we had when a few strange things happened in the transfer market,” he recalled to supporters. “But here between us, I can say my God were we lucky, eh?
“We didn’t know that in the moment, it didn’t feel like it in that moment. But, meh. I’m really happy that it worked out like that.
“You never know before, but I had a really good feeling before we started pre-season. Clear we had two already with Macca (Alexis Mac Allister) and Dom (Dominik Szoboszlai) in, and we knew there was a chance for Ryan (Gravenberch).
“Then we obviously realised other central defensive midfielders don’t want to join Liverpool (laughs). You see what happens!
“And then we found (Wataru) Endo. He’s an exceptional player, he is, absolutely. He’s 30 years old and an experienced captain of Japan. It’s not possible to be the first pick because the transfer market is not like that. We don’t go for a 30-year-old player who plays in Germany and nearly got relegated.
“Thank God we looked about things twice and had another look. Then it was clear we wanted this boy, and he wanted to come, definitely, and that helps.
“And now we have the squad together. We have a new leadership group if you want with very experienced players. Still young, some of them, and a group around full of desire and full of passion to give everything for this club.
“So that’s the start and now we have to try and make something special happen.”
In hindsight, the German's words have proven quite prophetic. Liverpool’s title challenge in Klopp’s final season might have ultimately fallen short, but his parting gift of a new £150m midfield has helped ensure ‘something special’ happened in Slot’s first season in charge instead.
Considering the German was 'really happy' with how things worked out then, Reds bosses, when preparing to face the aforementioned two former transfer targets, will inevitably be even more delighted now!