Marc Guehi was one that got away for Liverpool last summer and his influence against the Reds this season has highlighted what a loss he was.
Liverpool’s summer transfer window was an eye-opening one, with Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak both arriving for club-record fees.
While there was great positivity about the club’s spending – that optimism has long since evaporated – missing out on Guehi was a body blow.
The England international’s move to Anfield fell through at the 11th hour when a £35 million deal was agreed, with Palace not allowing him to leave.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 4, 2026: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (R) and Manchester City's Marc Guéhi during the FA Cup Quarter Final match between Manchester City FC and Liverpool FC at the City of Manchester Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Instead, Guehi stayed and eventually joined Man City in January, where he has helped them win the Carabao Cup and reach the FA Cup semi-finals at the expense of Liverpool.
If many Reds supporters weren’t already ruing the club missing out on him, one statistic sums up how much he loves playing against Liverpool.
Incredibly, Guehi has tasted victory five times against them this season, rubbing salt in their wounds.
The first came with Palace in the Community Shield, and then in the Premier League and Carabao Cup, before two wins in a City shirt this year.
A season-altering transfer blow for Liverpool?
Marc Guehi Manchester City debut. January 2026 (Martin Rickett/PA)
It is hard not to wonder what might have been if Liverpool had signed Guehi, even though he wouldn’t have solved all their problems.
The 25-year-old is now a proven international defender – one who is expected to start for England at the 2026 World Cup – and he would have added quality and depth to the back-line.
Ibrahima Konate has struggled badly amid doubts over a contract extension, while even Virgil van Dijk has shown signs of being past his near-perfect peak.
Meanwhile, Giovanni Leoni‘s season-ending knee injury was a cruel blow for a superb young prospect.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, February 8, 2026: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah under pressure from Manchester City's Rayan Aït-Nouri (L) and Marc Guehi (R) during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester City FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Having Guehi would have allowed Van Dijk more rest than he has been afforded, and he could easily have usurped Konate as a starter, too.
In a Liverpool squad lacking leadership, he would also have brought that, having captained Palace to FA Cup glory last season.
Seeing Guehi predictably shining for City is a tough one to take for Liverpool, not to mention fellow target Antoine Semenyo also excelling since he arrived from Bournemouth.
As mentioned, Guehi isn’t a Van Dijk-like figure who would have transformed Liverpool on and off the pitch, but he is an elite centre-back in his own right.
Had the Reds managed to get a deal over the line at the start of the season, they would likely have tightened up at the back and had an extra leader in their ranks.
At 25, Guehi still has a lot of his career remaining, and with each year that he grows as a player, Liverpool will rue Palace holding firm.
It’s now a case of the Reds finding a perfect alternative to him, with centre-back a primary area of focus at the end of this season.
Jeremy Jacquet is arriving from Rennes, but a more experienced defender is also required, regardless of whether Konate stays or not.