Against Barnsley, Liverpool proved that their biggest threat this season comes from within.
Arne Slot's side won 4-1 to kickstart their FA Cup campaign, setting up a fourth-round tie against fellow Premier League side Brighton at Anfield, but perhaps the Reds flattered to deceive against the spirited League One side.
Liverpool are on an 11-game unbeaten run across all competitions, and Slot has steadied the ship after a wretched run of form that has left the champions well adrift of Arsenal at the top of the league table.
Liverpool-2
But performances have left much to be desired, with a new pragmatic approaching equating the avoidance of defeat to progress.
That is progress, to be fair, but the Liverpool faithful demand more. This team must excite and inspire, bringing fans that kid-in-a-playground feeling once more. If Slot hopes to spend many years in the Anfield dugout, he needs more creativity, which is why FSG are considering a new playmaker in the centre of the park.
Liverpool have held talks to sign Champions League midfielder
After Liverpool were held to a dramatic draw at Craven Cottage, Fulham boss Marco Silva said, "We controlled Liverpool". He spoke of his side's aggression and how the Reds struggled to match that.
To a point, this is true. Certainly, Liverpool have lacked verve in the engine room this season, especially when compared to last year. Alexis Mac Allister has shelled up, and Ryan Gravenberch's flaws as an anchor man have been raised, even if he's still one of the best in the business.
They can do it, though, as the recent draw against Arsenal showed. Liverpool's biggest threat comes from within, and with the right addition, they could turn the tide.
Well, according to TEAMtalk, Arda Guler might be the man to bring Liverpool back to the top, with FSG and sporting director Richard Hughes understood to have made 'numerous enquiries' about the Real Madrid prospect over the past year.
Arda Guler for Real Madrid
Madrid have just parted with head coach Xabi Alonso after his tumultuous months-long stewardship, throwing plenty into doubt in the Spanish capital.
Guler may see this as a clean break, having dropped down the pecking order over the past few months, but with Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea all prowling, Los Blancos may want to cash in, having priced the creative midfielder at an unreasonable £130m.
How Arda Guler could become a Liverpool superstar
Funny that Liverpool should struggle to create after losing Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid. The one-of-a-kind right-back is one of the incredible passers you'll ever see, and what he gave Jurgen Klopp and then Slot from right-back is non-replicable.
Trent Alexander Arnold Liverpool stats (timeless)
Slot and Hughes recognised this, which is why Florian Wirtz was signed for £116m. The German operates from a more 'normal' creative area, but he is not of the same style as Trent, whose long, surgical passing is still missed.
Perhaps Guler can help rework that element into Liverpool's line-up? The Turkish international, after all, has a whole wealth of experience performing from right midfield, though more and more often nowadays, he plays in the middle of the pitch.
Indeed, the 20-year-old has been labelled "the best centre-midfield prospect in world football right now" by writer Neal Gardner.
Arda Guler's Career Stats by Position
Position
Attacking midfield
Right wing
Central midfield
Centre-forward
Left wing
Data via Transfermarkt
But Guler may be even more than that, with Santos star Neymar Jr. recently calling the up-and-comer "the best midfielder in the world".
That might be a touch overblown, Neymar, but we see your point. Guler left Fenerbahce in his homeland and joined Real Madrid aged 18, and he has starred 89 times, scoring 15 goals and providing 19 assists for his teammates.
Peer closer into Guler's underlying ability and you'll see why he could mimic Alexander-Arnold's long ball-playing effect on Merseyside. As per data-driven site FBref, he ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists and shot-creating actions, the top 8% for progressive passes and the top 11% for passes attempted per 90.
A pass is considered progressive if the distance between the starting point and the next touch is at least 10 meters closer to the opponent's goal or any completed pass into the penalty area.
While Guler is considered an attacking midfielder, he could easily play in a deeper berth, orchestrating and directing play. In La Liga this season, he creates 2.2 chances per game, as per Sofascore, but he's also won 55% of his ground duels, telling of composure and willingness when against the ball.
Arda Guler
Signing Guler would bring Liverpool's creative direction into a new focus, restoring that passing ability of Alexander-Arnold to the team, but in a different and new way.
Slot does not want to grasp at old straws, but reinvent this squad and push them further and further forward. Guler, for sure, could lead this new charge.
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Arne Slot must consider getting rid of this Liverpool stalwart for good after this underwhelming display against Barnsley.