Paul Merson has bizarrely claimed that Arne Slot has "problems coming up" at Liverpool this season because of the imminent arrival of Alexander Isak from Newcastle United.
Isak is closing in on a $169 million (£125 million) transfer ahead of today's deadline, with Liverpool having let Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz go earlier in the window.
But with Hugo Ekitike having started well at Anfield and Cody Gakpo having just signed a new contract, Merson has claimed that Slot could struggle to accomodate all of that talent.
"The problem now is Slot’s got decisions to make," Merson said on Sky Sports. "If Ekitike comes in, Gakpo won’t play. If Gakpo goes out to the left, then Ekitike won’t play. He’s got a few problems coming up.
"For me, Szoboszlai plays. I know he’s filled in at right-back, but he’ll have to come back into midfield.
"Did they win the league last year because their midfield was outstanding with Gravenberch, Mac Allister and Szoboszlai?
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot. (Image: George Wood/Getty Images)
"All the sudden, Wirtz is in there, a £100m player, and at the moment it isn’t working. He’s got a lot of decisions to make.
"I just think, why don’t they sort it out early doors instead of waiting until the last minute? It’s ridiculous, really."
Of course, Liverpool will be playing twice a week for most weeks of the season. Mohamed Salah will also be going to AFCON for a period, and players will get injuries at times.
Last season, Slot had six senior attackers. With the arrival of Isak, he will have five — one being Federico Chiesa, who barely featured last year — plus the emerging Rio Ngumoha.
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Liverpool is also trying to bring in Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace. Slot was asked whether Ibrahima Konate limping off against Arsenal would make that deal more significant.
"It's not a way of asking it," Slot said. "I could only not take one player into the game so I had to leave one out and that was a center-back.
"I think we were quite well in terms of center-backs. I think it was only cramp, so I don't think it was an injury. We have to find out in the upcoming games."
Liverpool.com says: Without Isak, the Reds would look really short in attack. Even with him, there is an argument they could have done one more, but Slot will be content.