Former Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Friedel has urged the club to sign Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi or Alessandro Bastoni after three consecutive defeats left them 13th in the Premier League
Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace
Marc Guehi is due to leave Crystal Palace next year amid interest from Liverpool
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Arne Slot has been given advice on how to mend Liverpool's defensive woes. The Reds, once lauded for having one of the world's most formidable defences with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate at the centre, have faltered this season.
Even the Liverpool skipper has had a tough time. Ahead of their match against West Ham, Slot's team languishes in 13th place in the league, with a goal difference of minus two.
This is a far cry from the club's previous two seasons, which saw them amass a combined goal difference of plus 90. Doubts are now being cast over Slot's defensive strategy, as Liverpool have suffered three consecutive losses, each by a margin of three goals.
Jamie Carragher has already called for the club to splash out in the January transfer window, and ex-Reds shot-stopper Brad Friedel has also put forward his suggestion for who Slot should recruit to shore up his defence. Speaking to talkSPORT BET, he proposed: "[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." Slot clearly felt the same way as Friedel in the summer.
Guehi had agreed a £35m deal with the Premier League champions and was in the midst of his medical when the transfer was abruptly stopped. Steve Parish, Crystal Palace chairman, put a halt to proceedings as the FA Cup winners struggled to secure a replacement in time.
Although it was a setback for Slot at the time, it now means he could potentially snap up the 25 year old on a free transfer when his contract runs out in the summer. Liverpool are reportedly taking a keen interest in Bastoni.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 18: Alessandro Bastoni of Inter Milan and Erling Haaland of Manchester City speak to Referee Glenn Nyberg during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between Manchester City and FC Internazionale Milano at City of Manchester Stadium on September 18, 2024 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Alessandro Bastoni is reportedly wanted by Liverpool(Image: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
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The Inter Milan defender has made a name for himself as one of Europe's leading centre-backs, and the Reds are believed to be preparing an offer around the £88m mark, according to reports in Europe. A January move hasn't been dismissed, but a summer transfer seems more likely.
It would be another costly acquisition for Liverpool, but one they may urgently require given their current situation. When quizzed about whether he needs to overhaul his starting XI, Slot replied: "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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