Liverpool have baffled supporters by not signing a dominant ball-winner this summer, while Brentford picked up an absolute bargain in Mamadou Sangare.
When Liverpool were at their dominant best under Jurgen Klopp, it was Fabinho who anchored the midfield to enable the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold to maraud forward in wide areas.
Liverpool have some truly gifted wide players this season under Andoni Iraola, but there is a complete lack of stability in the middle of the park, which has seen and will see them leak goals this season.
Two games into the 2026/27 Premier League season, Liverpool have conceded four goals and trailed four times. Were it not for Alisson Becker, they would have two defeats already.
And they have themselves to blame after three months of the transfer window were ignored when it was obvious what was needed.
It’s extremely frustrating.
Especially when Brentford signed Sangare for just £39m, solving a problem that Liverpool will now contend with all season.
Brentford signed Sangare from RC Lens, and it surprised me that more Premier League clubs did not compete for his signature. He’s 24 and fits the physical mould for a midfielder in the English top flight.
He was immense for Brentford against Leeds United in the 1-1 draw at the weekend. With 5 ground duels, 3 tackles, 3 interceptions, 5 ball recoveries, he’s exactly what Liverpool are missing in the middle of the park.
Mamadou Sangare, effortless ???@BrentfordFC pic.twitter.com/YGorpomimD
— Premier League (@premierleague) September 2, 2026
Liverpool decided not to sign a No.6 this season, and that feels like a decision that will come back to hurt them at some point. Not only are the Reds light on bodies in the engine room, but they don’t have a single midfielder whose strengths align with Sangare’s.
And for just £39m, it seems like the sort of signing that has provided Liverpool with the likes of Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson in the past.
Unfortunately, if Sangare continues to perform as many predicted he would in the Premier League, that price tag will double and then it will no longer be feasible to sign him.
Frankly, Liverpool missed their chance and will have to suffer the consequences.
Reports indicate that they considered signing Lamine Camara but that didn’t materialise, even if it could in January or next summer.