Maxence Lacroix has been a surprise name that Liverpool have been linked with.
The Reds want a centre-back and Marc Guehi has always seemed to be the top choice, but other options will still be explored.
Lacroix is a player Liverpool have discussed, although nothing has been mentioned recently about him, but perhaps it should.
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Marc Guehi during FC Dynamo Kyiv v Crystal Palace FC - UEFA Conference League 2025/26 League Phase MD1
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Guehi’s Crystal Palace teammate has proven to be a very solid Premier League defender, with it being no surprise the Reds have spoken about signing him.
However, we think he should now be their number one priority instead of Guehi, and here is why.
Maxence Lacroix is a like-for-like replacement for Ibrahima Konate
Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate may not have been as solid this season as in previous years, but on their day, they are one of the best partnerships in the league.
They suit each other perfectly, with the Dutchman being the ball-winner, while Konate is the sweeper who makes the recovery runs just in case.
Maxence Lacroix of Crystal Palace during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Manchester City at Selhurst Park
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However, with it looking like he will leave on a free, replacing him with Guehi would be bringing in a very different player, meaning the Reds would have to adapt.
With that said, Lacroix is very similar to Konate in the sense that he is a similar height at six foot, three inches, yet has the pace to replace what his fellow Frenchman does at Anfield.
This means he will still have the aerial threat of Konate, something that Guehi might not have being six foot tall, but will be much more adept at sweeping up behind van Dijk should he need it.
Lacroix is statistically better in the air than Guehi too after winning 126 headers compared to the Englishman’s 95, which is the ninth best in the division.
Both are the same age too, but with Guehi linked with a whole host of clubs in the summer, getting him feels highly unlikely, suggesting that switching their focus to Lacroix might be the better decision.
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Jamie Carragher has already urged Liverpool to sign someone aerially dominant
The Premier League has certainly gone more direct this season, with set pieces a key part of every team’s strategy.
Liverpool, however, have fallen behind in this department and have conceded more from set pieces than any other team in Europe, highlighting their need for better players in the air.
This is why Carragher said replacing Konate with Guehi will not solve anything and might even make things worse, showing how adding the height of Lacroix is the better option.
“If they sign a replacement for Konate if he doesn’t sign, they are buying someone who’s six foot three, six foot four,” he said.
“Liverpool need to get more equipped to this Premier League with long throws and corners, they are basically the worst team for it, so taking one of the biggest headers out the team for Guehi, I don’t think that fixes that.”
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