Liverpool’s season has been judged through the lens of fine margins, but Tim Krul believes one decisive recruitment call could have changed the entire conversation at Anfield.
The former Netherlands international has pointed to the Reds’ work behind the scenes, suggesting the club’s failure to get key decisions right in the market has played a major role in why Arne Slot’s side have fallen short of the standards expected on Merseyside.
And the name Krul believes could have made the difference is Marc Guehi. Liverpool were linked with the England international before his £20m January move to Manchester City, and Krul is convinced that pairing him with Virgil van Dijk would have transformed Slot’s side this season.
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Tim Krul suggests Marc Guehi could have changed Liverpool’s season
Krul did not hold back when assessing Liverpool’s campaign, making it clear that he sees recruitment as a major factor behind the club’s struggles.
Speaking to BBC Sport, he said: “I think the recruitment is very much responsible – that’s not just Arne Slot, that’s the club and the people behind the scenes as much as Arne.
“If you put Marc Guehi next to Virgil van Dijk this season, I don’t think we would be having these conversations.
“It’s small margins, but for Liverpool’s standards, it has been nowhere near good enough.”
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That is a striking claim, but it is easy to see the logic. Slot’s side have lacked consistency in key moments this season, and adding another top-class centre-back alongside Van Dijk could have given the side more balance, security and control.
Guehi’s mobility, composure and Premier League experience would have made him an ideal fit for their system, especially in a team that has often needed more authority defensively when momentum has swung.
Why Marc Guehi felt like the type of signing Liverpool needed
What makes Krul’s view even more interesting is that he is not suggesting Liverpool are miles away. In fact, his argument is that the gap between an underwhelming season and a successful one has been surprisingly narrow.
Krul also pointed to other issues, saying: “They are still in the Champions League and if they win that, it would have been a successful season.
“They’ve missed Alisson heavily for a few games and Mohamed Salah hasn’t hit the heights, so there are a few reasons there.”
That context matters. The Reds have not been a complete mess; they have simply lacked the extra edge that elite teams need when injuries hit and star players dip below their best.
That is why the Guehi point lands so strongly. Liverpool did not need a full rebuild. They may just have needed one more major signing in the right area of the pitch. For a club chasing the biggest honours, that kind of missed opportunity can define an entire season.
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