When Merson talks about Liverpool, it’s usually worth listening—partly because he’s been there, seen it, and occasionally kicked the ball in a straight line, and partly because he doesn’t sugar-coat anything. His latest verdict? Forget chasing Alexander Isak and get a proper center-back before the Premier League title defense turns into a soap opera.
On Tuesday, Sky Sports News revealed Liverpool are already deep in talks with Crystal Palace for Marc Guehi. The rumor mill says the defender wants to come. If true, that’s half the battle won. The other half? Actually signing him before Bournemouth strolls into Anfield this Friday.
Merson spots the leaks before the ship sails
The Community Shield at Wembley was supposed to be a showcase of Liverpool’s summer swagger—Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, and Jeremie Frimpong all looking like they’d been playing together since the Dalglish era. The attack? Electric. The defense? About as watertight as a colander. Twice they let Palace claw back equalizers. In a penalty shoot-out, they folded like a dodgy deckchair.
Why a centre-back is worth more than a shiny new striker
Merson isn’t anti-Isak. He just knows that in the Premier League, you can’t score your way out of every problem—especially when those problems are wearing opposition shirts and charging at your goal. With Virgil van Dijk not getting any younger and the backup options unconvincing, Liverpool needs stability at the back more than another attacking toy.
Timing is everything
Liverpool’s title defense begins in days. If they don’t sort the defense now, the first few months could feel less like a campaign and more like a weekly episode of “Can They Outscore the Chaos?” Merson’s warning isn’t subtle: fix the leaks, or watch the ship list early.
In short—Isak can wait. Guehi, or any top-class center-back, can’t. Even Merson’s critics would admit, this time, the man’s got a point sharper than Trent’s cross-field passes.
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