Liverpool have ended 2025 on the front foot, reclaiming agency and focus after Arne Slot's side got lost for much of the first half of the 2025/26 campaign.
After winning the Premier League title and spending record-breaking numbers on new signings, Liverpool were billed as odds-on favourites for a back-to-back trophy, but many things have gone wrong for the Reds this term, tactically imbalanced and unable to defend against this new direct culture in the English game, evidenced by their shocking defensive record against set-pieces.
Most Set-piece Goals Conceded 25/26 (Top 5 Leagues)
Club
Liverpool
Bournemouth
Nott'm Forest
FC Koln
West Ham
Fiorentina
Data via ThisIsAnfield
*Excluding penalties
Liverpool stare at the imminent January transfer window with centre-back signings in their eyes. But it's not only defensively that the Anfield club have struggled, with attacking issues leading to a flurry of speculation over Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, who now looks like he's joining Manchester City.
Liverpool's transfer plans in attack
Alexander Isak broke his leg this month, aggravating an already struggling frontline. This might have prompted Liverpool to follow up on their November calls with Semenyo's representatives, but FSG have decided against matching the intensity of City's interest.
Could this be because sporting director Richard Hughes has been tasked with signing an even more exciting attacking talent?
Well, this week, Anfield Watch have confirmed that Liverpool have registered their interest in Eintracht Frankfurt winger Jean-Mattéo Bahoya, with the 20-year-old making waves in the Bundesliga.
Bahoya
This won't be an easy one to pull off. Arsenal also have a vested interest, and Frankfurt don't want to let him go, pricing the up-and-coming talent at around £71m.
Why Liverpool should sign Bahoya
Bahoya is exceptionally fast and intelligent in his movement and decision-making.
After leaving Angers for his current German employers in 2024, the snappy winger has only gone from strength to strength, starting eight league games this season and proving that he has the kind of quality to see him succeed at a top club in the Premier League.
Given that Liverpool have spent so much money on new forwards recently, Bahoya's younger and less experienced presence might actually bear dividends for the overall fluency of Slot's frontline.
jean-matteo-bahoya
Analyst Spencer Mossman has even said that he's "like a younger Bukayo Saka", and that bodes well for the France U21 international's potential on the grand stage, given he shares with Arsenal's talisman (and Semenyo) a combativeness and energy to match his final-third potency.
Though he has not yet found the kind of clinical form Semenyo is riding in the Premier League, with nine goals and three assists to his name this season, there is much to like from an underlying perspective.
Bahoya vs Semenyo (League Form 25/26)
Stats (per 90)
Goals scored
Assists
Touches (att pen)
Shots taken
Shot-creating actions
Pass completion (%)
Progressive passes
Progressive carries
Successful take-ons
Ball recoveries
Tackles + interceptions
Data via FBref
As per Sofascore, Bahoya has completed 62% of his dribbles and won 64% of his ground duels in the Bundesliga this season, with a precision to his movements that bespeaks his prodigious physical skillset.
He's also intelligent and coded for success in Liverpool's frontline. Analyst Ben Mattinson singled out Hugo Ekitike's "link-up prowess" for Frankfurt last season after setting up a Bahoya goal. There's a combination that could wreak havoc on the Premier League next season.
jean-matteo-bahoya-frankfurt
There's a sense that Liverpool opted against signing Semenyo because they have bigger plans shelved. Bahoya could become a bona fide superstar in the Premier League, surpassing the kind of level Semenyo would offer Slot's side.
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Arne Slot knows his Liverpool squad is flawed heading into the January transfer window.