Alex-Scott-England
Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
Just days after Anfield saw their chance of revenge washed away by Ryan Gravenberch's red card, Liverpool and Andoni Iraola travelled to LASK with plenty to get out of their system.
Up until Gravenberch's dismissal on Sunday, it was shaping up to be a memorable afternoon for the Reds, who were simply lacking the goals. Ultimately, those goals never arrived. Days later in Austria, however, that was not an issue.
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barcola-liverpool (2)
Liverpool hit LASK for six, with Bradley Barcola finally announcing himself with a European hat-trick, before three goals arrived at the other end to hand Iraola further questions about his side - questions the transfer window could answer if they sign Alex Scott.
Why Liverpool are targeting Alex Scott
A tough start in a new environment has inevitably left Iraola reminiscing about the success he had on the south coast.
When times are tough, a familiar face helps just about any manager. It's why Harry Redknapp dragged Niko Kranjcar around the country and partly why Iraola is now targeting a reunion with Scott.
The Bournemouth star played his best football under Iraola last season and, as the Spaniard seeks a solution for Liverpool's midfield problems, Scott has entered his radar.
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The deal won't come cheap and Liverpool are not the only club interested. According to recent reports, Bournemouth are willing to sell Scott in the January transfer window if a £100m offer arrives and they are not struggling towards the bottom of the Premier League.
It's a key boost for Liverpool, who have not hesitated to spend big in the last 24 months when they've deemed it necessary. Unlike Florian Wirtz and Barcola, Scott wouldn't need time to adapt to the Premier League or the manager in charge, and that's one of many reasons why he should be a top target.
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|Scott vs Liverpool midfielders in 26/27|
|Stats (* = per 90 mins)|Scott|Mac Allister|Szoboszlai|
|---|
|Minutes|446|398|441|
|Pass completion|81.6%|86.6%|86.6%|
|Chances created *|2.22|1.13|2.24|
|Recoveries *|7.26|5.43|4.49|
|Distance covered *|11.7km|11.1km|11km|
|Possession won in final third *|1.41|0.45|0.41|
Out of possession, Scott has been incredibly impressive this season. He is exactly what Liverpool need. But there would remain issues in possession - ones that Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister have both endured.
The last thing Liverpool need is to spend £100m without solving all their issues - especially when an internal solution has finally taken his opportunity.
Liverpool may already have their own Alex Scott
Liverpool's biggest problem in midfield is ball retention. Whether it's Mac Allister, Szoboszlai or Gravenberch, none of Iraola's stars have enjoyed a pass success of higher than 87%.
That is incredibly poor and points to where the Reds are going wrong - especially when asked to control possession against low blocks.
Scott wouldn't act as a solution in that department. It was no different under Iraola last season, either. It was then that the Englishman completed just 84.9% of his passes. If Liverpool needed a relentless pressing star, then he would be their man. That is not the profile they need, however.
Instead, Trey Nyoni, who is a future £100m star, is the solution that Iraola should be looking towards.
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The 19-year-old put on a passing masterclass against Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup earlier this season, completing 95% of his passes, and put on another show against LASK.
Amid so much uncertainty in the middle of the park, the teenager can solve Liverpool's biggest problem.
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Trey Nyoni vs LASK
Minutes
Pass completion
Recoveries
Line-breaking passes
Dribbled past
Defensive contributions
It was Scott who emerged when Iraola was last looking towards a young midfielder to transform his side. Now, Nyoni can do the same. The Liverpool star is certainly ready and has been on his manager's radar since pre-season.
Speaking to reporters in the summer after Nyoni's impressive displays, Iraola said: "Nyoni is very good, confident, calm on the ball. He reads situations well. We’re forcing him in the work without the ball, in the press, and he is absolutely doing very well. I think the timings of the jumps are very good. We keep encouraging him."