Arne Slot is facing defensive concerns this season as his Liverpool side continue to struggle with poor performances across all competitions
Alessandro Bastoni in action
Alessandro Bastoni has been linked with a move to Liverpool(Image: DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
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Arne Slot has been told who he should turn to to help fix Liverpool's problems at the back. The Reds have often been praised in recent campaigns for boasting one of the strongest back lines in world football, with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate central to their success.
However, this season even the Liverpool captain has struggled. Following Saturday’s results, Slot’s side sit 13th in the table with a -2 goal difference.
This is a stark contrast to the club’s past two seasons, where they produced a combined goal difference of +90. Questions are now being asked of Slot’s defensive approach, as Liverpool have suffered three straight defeats, each by a three-goal margin.
Jamie Carragher has already urged the club to spend in the January transfer window, and former Reds goalkeeper Brad Friedel has also suggested who Slot should bring in to stabilise his back line.
Speaking to online slots site talkSPORT BET, he said: "[Alessandro] Bastoni would be my option. But if Liverpool can re-enter the race for Guehi, they absolutely should - he’d be perfect because he already knows the Premier League.
"Buying from abroad always carries the risk that a player takes months to adapt, especially for centre-backs. Guehi is already proven in the league, which is why I’d pull out all the stops for him."
Marc Guehi.
Marc Guehi had agreed a deal with Liverpool over the summer
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Slot shared the same idea as Friedel over the summer. Guehi had in fact agreed a £35m deal with the Premier League champions and was undergoing his medical when the transfer was suddenly halted.
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish pulled the plug as the FA Cup holders struggled to find a replacement in time. Although it was a blow for Slot at the time, it now means he could secure the 25-year-old for free when his contract expires in the summer.
Liverpool are also reportedly preparing a bid for Bastoni. The Inter Milan defender has established himself as one of Europe’s top centre-backs, and the Reds are said to be lining up an offer in the region of £88m, according to Mundo Deportivo.
A January move has not been ruled out, but a summer switch appears more realistic. It would be another expensive signing for Liverpool, but one they may desperately need in their current state.
When asked whether he needs to shake up his starting XI, Slot responded: "Is the question should I change dramatically? If, for example, you want another system with five defenders, that could be an issue. I don’t even have five defenders.
"It suits the players best, the system we are playing now. They have played this system probably throughout their whole career and there is hardly any training time for us.
"So it is almost impossible to change our complete idea about football if we play every two days."
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