John Aldridge urges Liverpool to sign new players in January and looks ahead to Arsenal away in the second half of his weekly ECHO column
Rio Ngumoha celebrates with Federico Chiesa after scoring their third goal during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Liverpool at St James' ParkView Image
Liverpool were crying out for pace in the first half against Fulham. Jeremie Frimpong is the only one who offers it. He stretches defences and causes problems.
I thought he should have come on at half-time. He’s done well in the last couple of games and that’s three assists for him now. But we’re still too predictable. Far too predictable.
It was comfortable for Fulham. We needed to push them back and not make it easy for them to defend against. We play in front of teams too much. I want to see us get in behind more, make those runs and cause teams problems.
We need more players willing to make runs like Frimpong. Maybe it’s something that can be addressed now the transfer window is open.
We need to play balls in behind more and push teams back. We don’t do that enough. We’ve got no space to play in. It’s just so static. We’re too predictable and easy to play against.
Rio Ngumoha is one of those players, if you bring him on for 15 minutes, teams don’t know how to play against him.
What he does, no-one knows. He probably doesn’t even know. He’s unpredictable. He has pace and trickery and can hurt teams.
Gerrard, Rooney, Owen, Fowler, they all played at that age. Maybe Arne is trying to protect him by using him sparingly.
We've not seen much of him this season but if you’re good enough, you’re old enough. I would like to see him used more.
We’ve had injuries and with no Hugo Ekitike against Fulham, we lacked options in attack. We have to get on with it though.
Cody Gakpo did okay upfront and he can play there, but it’s not ideal. The midfield is okay, the defence is okay. We have quality in the starting XI.
Wirtz can go upfront if needed. It’s only the bench where we’re short. Slot has got to manage the squad. If we can, the owners have to get a player or two in. I don’t think they will sign anyone though.
I’d have Harvey Elliott back. I’ve said it before. We’re short of bodies and he’d make a difference if he was back in our squad.
He’s an impact player, a game-changer. I’m not sure if we can sign someone, if the owners will want to splash the cash. But bringing Elliott back would at least add something.
I’ve said before I want us to sign someone, to add something else to the squad, but it doesn’t look likely. That could prove costly though. Especially at centre-back.
If we lost Joe Gomez to another injury, we could be in real trouble at the back.
We don’t actually have that many out at the moment, but we’re still looking short. It just reiterates we need to do something in January if possible.
Missing out on top four doesn't bear thinking about
We’re not gonna win the league. It pains me to say it but that ship has long since sailed.
It’s between Man City and Arsenal, though it would be nice if Aston Villa won it.
For us, the aim is Champions League qualification. Fourth place, solidify that, we have to do that.
To end up in the Europa League or Conference doesn’t bear thinking about and could be really costly.
We’ll always attract the best players because we’re Liverpool Football Club. But we still need to be in the Champions League to get the very best players ahead of our rivals in the summer.
We got Wirtz and Isak last summer as champions. We won’t have that same tag next year. It would be great if we had something to show from the season though, be that a run in the Champions League or even the FA Cup.
It’s something to play for. A trophy is a trophy. But we have to improve.
Arsenal away could be a long night
Arsenal will be tough on Thursday. We have to defend like we haven’t for a long time and keep them at bay.
They’re flying. If they get an early goal, we could be in for a very long night.
Every game you’ve got to give the same, whether it’s Arsenal or Wolves. It’ll bring the best out of you because they’re likely champions.
We have to go there and show what we can do. They know how good we can be. We know how good we can be. So go out there and show it.
Fulham played like teams do at Anfield. They sat deep and frustrated us. Arsenal won’t do that, not in front of their own fans.
Arsenal won’t sit back so we have to show what we’re capable of doing. We’ll have more space going forward so we have to make the most of it.
There will be more room to attack. When there are opportunities, we have to take them.
It will be the most difficult game of the season. All Liverpool fans will tell you the same, they’re anxious about this one because of the way we’ve been playing.
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But while it could be a long night if it goes against us, it could also be the type of game that unlocks more from us.
Who knows, maybe it could be the game to actually get us back in form.