Liverpool could enter the new Premier League season dangerously hampered by their defensive situation
Tijjani Reijnders of AC Milan celebrates with Fikayo Tomori after scoring the his team's third goal during the Coppa Italia Semi Final match between FC Internazionale and AC Milan
Fikayo Tomori could be an ideal addition to bolster Liverpool's defensive options(Image: AC Milan via Getty Images)
View 4 Images
Liverpool have now conceded seven goals in three pre-season games. Their defensive record this summer certainly doesn't spell for good reading heading into Andoni Iraola's first season in charge.
Leeds' four-goal haul in the second half of their 4-2 win over the Reds on Sunday was an eye-opener regarding Liverpool's options at the back. Ifeanyi Ndukwe, Luke Chambers and Mor Talla Ndiaye were the only centre-backs to feature in the game, with the Reds' season-opener against Newcastle less than three weeks away.
The Premier League side began the summer window losing Ibrahima Konate to Real Madrid before Joe Gomez got injured in their first pre-season game against Sunderland. Jeremy Jacquet has not yet featured for the Reds due to a minor injury.
Giovanni Leoni hasn't joined pre-season training as he continues his recovery from an ACL injury, leaving Virgil van Dijk as the sole fit senior centre-back at the club. It's a situation that simply shouldn't be happening at Liverpool.
The Reds have less than a month to seriously bolster their squad before the window closes on September 1. In the era of modern football where a bargain becomes less common, the Reds have a golden opportunity to capture just that.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 23: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Jérémy Jacquet of Liverpool during a training session at Endeavor Health Performance Center on July 23, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Nikki Dyer/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Jeremy Jacquet has yet to feature for Liverpool in pre-season(Image: Getty Images)
View 4 Images
A player with both Premier League and Champions League experience would cater to Liverpool's needs, as well as possessing considerable pace to hold their own in Iraola's high line. One name that springs to mind is AC Milan's Fikayo Tomori.
The 28-year-old began his career at Chelsea before going on several loans and eventually finding a home in Italy. A successful loan spell at Milan in 2021 resulted in his permanent acquisition and he's gone on to become a key player for the club, winning the Serie A title in 2022 and the Supercoppa Italiana in 2025.
FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook page
Fikayo Tomori claps the fans
Fikayo Tomori has both Premier League and Champions League experience(Image: Getty Images)
View 4 Images
The Reds have been linked with a move for the former England international, with the added bonus of a potential move being that Tomori's contract is set to expire next year. Jacquet and Leoni are no doubt the planned future of Liverpool's backline, but acquiring a player of Tomori's experience and ability to play across the backline is a commodity that Iraola simply doesn't have at his disposal.
Are there potentially more talented centre-backs than Tomori on the market? Probably. But, is there a player that offers as much as he does and at a possible cut-price? Unlikely.
Virgil van Dijk celebrates
Virgil van Dijk is currently the Reds' only fit senior centre-back(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
View 4 Images
Van Dijk has been the rock of Liverpool's defence for eight years now and is coming off a season where he played every single minute of the 25/26 league campaign. Giving him a centre-back partner in Jacquet, who has just 37 top-flight appearances to his name, could be asking too much of the 35-year-old skipper.
But placing him alongside a seasoned professional in Tomori, who has played in countless high-pressure matches in England and Italy, could be just what the Dutchman needs after the departure of Konate.
However, time is running out for Iraola to make a move in order to prevent his side from entering the new campaign already at a disadvantage.