Liverpool have struggled with a series of defensive injury setbacks this term.placeholder image
Liverpool have struggled with a series of defensive injury setbacks this term. | Getty Images
Liverpool could be forced to act in the final days of the transfer window after another defensive setback.
Premier League holders Liverpool gave the continent a stark reminder of their European pedigree by dismantling a hapless Qarabag backline in a ruthless 6-0 victory at Anfield, all while booking their place in the competition’s last 16 and avoiding any possibility of a two-legged play-off later down the line.
It was exactly what the doctor ordered from Arne Slot’s perspective, who was able to ease some concerns about his team’s lack of entertainment while also crucially getting Mohamed Salah back in the line-up and back in the goals. The one negative, however, and one which has become a recurring theme this season, is that the Reds were unable to escape the game without any fresh injury concerns as summer signing Jeremie Frimpong’s frustrating start to life in England continued with what appears to be his third separate hamstring injury of the season.
The Netherlands international has played just 11 league matches all season and has only managed to register one assist, in what very much can be described as a stop-start campaign. While the extent of his injury isn’t yet clear, what becomes obvious heading into a challenging test against Newcastle United is that the club are going to have to face a busy run of fixtures without an established right-back after a season-ending injury to Conor Bradley and a fresh blow to Joe Gomez.
Liverpool have been surprisingly quiet in this window in stark contrast to the chaos of the summer, but could now be forced to delve into the market to make sure their top four hopes remain intact following Manchester United and Chelsea’s new manager bounce...
Liverpool should target Sunderland’s Nordi Mukiele
Sunderland’s start to the season since returning to the top-flight for the first time since 2017 have been nothing short of remarkable, and it’s fair to say that the signing of Nordi Mukiele has played a big part in that.
Mukiele joined the Black Cats from Paris Saint-Germain for a bargain figure of £12m and has been immense for the Wearside club since his summer move. Overall, the French international has played 21 league matches, scored one goal and contributed an impressive four assists, leaving him in the joint top 11 creative players in the division with the same amount of assists as players such as Salah, Martin Ødegaard and Bruno Guimarães while playing in defence.
He’s also the second most creative defender in the division behind Manchester City gem Matheus Nunes, which is hugely impressive considering that the 28-year-old is playing for a newly-promoted team and supplying players such as Brian Brobbey and Wilson Isidor - solid performers by all means, but not of the same standard as someone like Erling Haaland.
Mukiele is a key player for the Black Cats and someone they are unlikely to want to let go of, but it could potentially be difficult for Sunderland to turn down an offer from a team with the financial might and historic pull of Liverpool if they were to come calling.
Why a move for Mukiele would make perfect sense
It may not look like it at the moment, but Liverpool are fairly well stocked in the right-back position. They have an excellent young talent in Frimpong, who won a Bundesliga title that still has the ability to be a success once he finds his fitness while they also have a tremendous young talent in Bradley at their disposal.
However, with both out injured, the Reds would likely be forced to shift one of their best midfielders in Dominik Szoboszlai over to the right-back position which in turn weakens the teams ability to control games in the middle of the park. Signing a player like Mukiele, who is unlikely to be quite as expensive as younger alternatives would fill that void and ensure the Reds have a player with the experience of playing at top clubs.
Mukiele is a two-time Ligue 1 winner, a German Cup winner and a player with experience of playing with big clubs like RB Leipzig, Bayer Leverkusen and PSG. He has 35 matches of Champions League experience under his belt and has appeared in semi-finals of Europe’s elite competition as well as cup finals.
He’s played alongside Ibrahima Konaté and Szoboszlai in the past and importantly would be able to slot into central defence to provide further competition in that area, once the two right-backs return. Ultimately, enticing a player like Mukiele would be a shrewd cost-effective move for the Reds.
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