Sky Sports pundit and former Manchester United full-back Gary Neville has hit out at some of the Liverpool transfer decisions that he says are impacting Andoni Iraola
Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville.
Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville.(Image: Michael Driver/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Gary Neville has blasted Liverpool's recruitment strategy and suggested it would be a mistake to let Cody Gakpo leave with the Dutch forward drawing interest from Manchester City.
Liverpool looks set to sign Bradley Barcola from PSG in a deal worth up to $166 million (£123 million) but it still needs a right winger before Tuesday's transfer deadline and there remain question marks over the depth in key areas of its roster.
"It's bizarre," Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast. "The noise that Gakpo might leave — I know that Barcola might come in — but he looks like their best forward. I think he's a real danger.
"Someone like him can maybe not be appreciated at times. He's always involved and you should never underestimate a player [like him].
"There's a lot of scruffy things he does but he always keeps coming back, he always wants the ball and he's always there. He does contribute with goals and with assists, maybe not at a massive level, but it's hard to replace lads like him.
"When your main opponents are looking to take him off you, I always think that is a bit of a worry and I don't think they can afford to lose him."
In addition to lacking numbers in attack, Liverpool only has Jeremie Frimpong available as a right-back at the moment, with Conor Bradley sidelined through a long-term injury.
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.(Image: Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images)
Frimpong, who arrived from Bayer Leverkusen having played as a wing-back, is yet to fully convince.
"The most bizarre is that they haven't signed a full-back, left back and a right back," Neville continued. "Frimpong and [Milos] Kerkez look like the ideal wing-backs in a back five. It looks like a squad that could play a back three.
"If they're going to play a back four, and Kerkez and Frimpong are going to play full-back, and they're not going to sign a holding midfielder, Liverpool are going to concede a lot of goals.
"With the two goals against Nottingham Forest, the right back is nowhere to be seen on the first one and on the second one, he lets the runner go from a throw-in when he should just mark him and go with him all the way. He's got no natural instinct of how to defend.
"We used to criticize Trent Alexander-Arnold for his defensive work. To put this into context, Trent Alexander-Arnold is a lot better defender than Frimpong, and he used to contribute 15-20 assists in a season. I don't think Frimpong will.
"Kerkez doesn't look like he's settled. At one point last season I thought he looked like an academy player playing at left-back for Liverpool and he's not — he's a very good player but they can't play with those two at full back and expect not to concede goals.
"I'm not sure what's going on there in respect of their recruitment. I don't think they have the numbers in defense and I think they're leaving Andoni Iraola well short.
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"I know he looks like a gentleman and you see him in the interviews but if I was him I'd be demanding something in the next 48 hours because it will cost him.
"They will concede a lot of goals if those two play at full back in a normal traditional back four with that midfield.
"There's real excitement with the players they've got up top and if they added a defensive midfield player, and two good full backs, they'd have a really good chance.
"But they're being undermined by a lack of recruitment in those full back areas and in central midfield. They need to do something."
Liverpool.com says: Neville's assessment is a little harsh on Kerkez. The idea that Liverpool could switch to a back three is nonsense too. However, the Reds do need more in the market, with the squad looking considerably short, and the clock ticking.