“One To Watch…” – Paul Gorst On ‘Brilliant’ Premier League Ace Linked To Liverpool | OneFootball

By James Cranford

Liverpool have one hand on the Premier League trophy following consecutive 2-0 wins over Manchester City and Newcastle United.

With Arsenal failing to win either of their last two fixtures, the gap at the top of the table has grown to 13 points, meaning Arne Slot’s side are now heavy favourites to land a record-equalling 20th league title in the coming weeks.

Fans and pundits alike have remarked on Slot’s ability to get the best out of a squad that fell short under Jürgen Klopp last season. Federico Chiesa has thus far been the only signing made under the Dutchman, but he has made little impact on his team’s fortunes since his arrival last August.

Speculation is rife as to how Arne will prioritise transfer spending this summer having worked with his players for a full year. Many onlookers believe a new left-back should be brought in, with the likes of Milos Kerkez and Rayan Aït-Nouri linked with a possible Anfield switch.

On the latest episode of our Journo Insight show, we asked Liverpool Echo’s LFC correspondent Paul Gorst for his thoughts on the club’s left-back options.

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“What is it now, five years of Kostas Tsimikas? Andy Robertson may have lost a yard here or there this season with a couple of high-profile mistakes. You can understand why Liverpool might be looking for a longer-term option at left-back.

“Whenever I’ve seen Kerkez, he looks good to be fair… I’ve seen him put in some brilliant crosses on that left flank a few times, and he does seem as though he’s a young player with massive upside, so I think that would be one to watch.

“One of the most interesting things of Liverpool’s shift under Slot has been the more orthodox full-back role. For years it was Alexander-Arnold and Robertson being the ‘forwards’ number four and five.

“I think that has been a little bit of a tweak in the system as well, which means that when you are recruiting for those roles, the requirements change a bit.

“We’ll see what happens with Tsimikas. You can’t see a world where Robertson goes.

“He’s been a really good servant for Liverpool, but if Liverpool are looking to upgrade their first-choice left-back, I think it might be Kostas Tsimikas making way.”

Will Liverpool be in the market for a new left-back?

With Liverpool favourites to land both the EFL Cup and Premier League having already topped the Champions League group stage table, obvious ways to enhance the squad are now few and far between. However, the best sides improve from a position of strength, so the ability levels of Arne Slot’s players should come under the microscope between now and the opening of the summer transfer window. Left-back is one area of the pitch that has been under scrutiny this campaign, with club legend and stalwart Andy Robertson showing signs of decline and experiencing patches of poor form. Kostas Tsimikas is having one of his best seasons in a red shirt, but even his most ardent fan would admit he will never be considered a ‘world-class’ talent. With Robertson’s contract expiring in June 2026, this summer represents an ideal opportunity for the Reds to bring in a long-term successor who can learn the levels of consistency and professionalism required to cut the mustard at Anfield. Both Milos Kerkez and Rayan Aït-Nouri are attractive propositions but do not rule out FSG’s transfer hierarchy casting their net outside the Premier League.