Virgil van Dijk is a generational defender, one of Liverpool's greatest players in modern history.
However, this season he has been exposed as a mere mortal, with Liverpool's defensive injuries and general tactical problems under Arne Slot's management leading to a less-than-successful Premier League title defence.
Arsenal's lead at the summit is unassailable, and the Reds must now battle toward Champions League qualification while competing for silverware in Europe's elite club competition and the FA Cup too.
However, those such as Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher fear that the Anfield side have left themselves short-changed in defence, even after pulling off a statement signing on deadline day.
How Liverpool are reshaping their defence
Ibrahima Konate is out of contract at the end of the season, and it doesn't look like a resolution will be found with the French centre-back, despite FSG's best efforts.
ibrahima-konate-liverpool
Liverpool won't get a transfer fee but they have received bang for their buck, with Konate instrumental alongside Van Dijk in securing the Premier League title last season, bagging silverware in terms before too.
Replacing Konate is his compatriot Jeremy Jacquet, who, aged 20, has just completed a £60m move to Merseyside, Liverpool beating Chelsea after the Blues had been considered frontrunners for the Rennes star.
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Jacquet is one for the future, but he's also considered ready for Premier League action in 2026, Konate-esque in his athletic and pacy defensive style, with a ball-playing range that Van Dijk will be proud of as the skipper enters the final stretch of his illustrious Liverpool journey next year.
Jacquet vs Ligue 1 centre-backs
Liverpool's shallow defensive pool has been a major flashpoint throughout the season, but with Jacquet set to join Giovanni Leoni in the ranks next season, there's much to be excited about.
Leoni, of course, has become something of a forgotten man. The teenager ruptured his ACL on his debut against Southampton, and he won't be back until the early months of 2026/27. The Italian is touted for great things, though, and could form a long-standing partnership with Jacquet.
League Form 25/26 - Jacquet vs Konate
Stats (* per 90)
Matches (starts)
Goals + Assists
Clean sheets
Touches*
Accurate passes*
Chances created*
Ball recoveries*
Tackles + interceptions*
Clearances*
Ground duels won*
Aerial duels won*
Errors made
Data via Sofascore
However, FSG have stocked the Premier League side with even more rearguard quality. Indeed, a young defender who was signed last month may grow into just as big a star as the higher-profile additions.
Liverpool have signed Van Dijk-esque defender
Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes has been criticised for his failure to address Liverpool's defensive problems. And in fairness, Slot is just a Van Dijk or Konate injury away from being jeopardised over the crucial months ahead.
arne-slot-liverpool
While this is a potential problem that Liverpool will need to solve internally, Ifeanyi Ndukwe could help replace the mainstays down the line. He has been described as "one of the most exciting young talents in Austria" by scout Jacek Kulig, having agreed a deal to join Liverpool from Austria Wien for a fee shy of £3m at the end of the 2025/26 season.
The 17-year-old has already chalked up a wealth of experience in his homeland, and while he hasn't broken into the Wien first team yet, that may change in the coming months, before his big move.
For all his error-riddled performances, Konate has proved strong, imperious, even, in the duel this season, and with Jacquet framed as a duel-proficient centre-half, a prospect like Ndukwe will need to be on their A-game over the next several years in the academy should he want to land himself a starring role under Slot's wing.
ibrahima-konate-liverpool
The great thing about FSG's astute deal is that Ndukwe will not face any external pressure to break into the big time any time soon. The vast majority of Premier League fans, and probably many Liverpool supporters, won't yet know the name.
But Hughes and co believe they will soon enough. After all, this is a defender who has led analyst Raj Chohan to say he's “got Van Dijk vibes”, with his rangy frame and cool-headed approach to his defending suggesting he has the perfect skillset to succeed in the Premier League.
Van-Dijk-Liverpool
Already standing at 6 foot 5, Ndukwe is bound to develop the aerial ability that Van Dijk has mastered over the years in Britain, and his pace and passing add further strings to a bow that appears tailor-made for Premier League football.
Of course, he is still developing physically and maturing as a footballer, but Ndukwe has the potential to be a superstar at Liverpool and is a reminder that the club have secured a successful new backline for the years ahead.
Let's just hope the existing options can keep the ship from sinking over the next few months.
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There could be a change in the Anfield dugout...