John Barnes does not believe that Liverpool should make any signings this month as he shares his verdict on his former club's 0-0 draw at Arsenal
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - JULY 05: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Arne Slot new head coach of Liverpool and Richard Hughes sporting director of Liverpool during thier first press conference at AXA Training Centre on July 05, 2024 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes oversaw a squad overhaul in the summer(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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After spending a record £446m in the summer transfer window, no-one could have expected Liverpool to be 14 points off Premier League leaders Arsenal. There has, of course, been extenuating circumstances.
While head Arne Slot has and continues to remind critics that while the defending champions did splash the cash, they also recouped £262m in sales as key members of last season's title-winning squad either chose to move on or were moved on.
It means that while it is squad packed with quality, it lacks the strength in depth of table-topping Arsenal, who played out a 0-0 draw with Liverpool at the Emirates on Thursday.
And it is a squad that is currently down to the bare bones with Mohamed Salah away at the Africa Cup of Nations, where has fired Egypt into the semi-finals, and £125m transfer record buy Alexander Isak out long term along with fellow summer signing Giovanni Leoni and now Conor Bradley, whose knee injury sustained in midweek against the Gunners means he will not play again this season.
That has led to supporters wondering whether FSG will loosen the purse strings again during this month's transfer window as the Reds look to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League and win the FA Cup and the Premier League.
However, Liverpool legend John Barnes believes it would be wise for Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes to keep their powder dry.
“No - the solution to Liverpool’s problems is not to sign players," said the former England international, who scored 108 goals and made 99 more in 407 appearances at Anfield.
"They spent more than £400m in the summer and did not get any better. If you sign more players in January and don’t see any improvement, what happens at the end of the season: Do you then sign even more?
“You must work with what you have. The players already at Arne Slot’s disposal are good enough.
“Liverpool made a number of big signings last summer, and I’m not saying they haven’t worked out, you’ve got to give new players time to blend, and some are now injured.
“I’m no fan of signing players in January because at this time of the season, you’re not buying the players you want, you’re not going to be able to bring in the best players. Liverpool don’t need any signings this month.”
Recent results may back up Barnes' belief. The stalemate with Arsenal means the Reds are now unbeaten in nine Premier League matches.
It would be fair to suggest that Slot's side have been far from at their best during that sequence and they have had to settle for a point apiece in each of their last three fixtures.
But Barnes was encouraged by what he saw against the Gunners. “Liverpool were very good, particularly in the second half,” the two-time title winner told the ECHO via the Covers.com World Cup betting team.
“In the first half, they were a bit tentative, understandably, taking on a team playing well and sitting top of the league. Liverpool looked like they didn't want to overcommit or go forward - they were a little bit nervous.
“But in the second half, Liverpool were excellent. They were the better team, dominated possession, got in good areas, hit the post and the crossbar.
“The signs were very, very good for me from Liverpool's point of view. The players can take some confidence now from the fact that they played against the best team in the country, and outplayed them and nearly won, arguably should have won, if you look at the second half.”
The Reds return to Premier League action at home to Burnley on Saturday. But first up is a FA Cup third-round clash at home to Barnsley tomorrow (Monday).