Anfield Watch
·7 de julio de 2025
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Yahoo sportsAnfield Watch
·7 de julio de 2025
Liverpool have a squad issue that needs solving. That solution appears to be at Arsenal.
Everything at Liverpool is on hold right now after the tragic death of Diogo Jota. Pre-season, previously set to start two days ago, has been delayed until Tuesday.
But things won't be normal again, really. This is a devastating event and one that will scar everyone at Liverpool.
Somehow, they'll need to find a way to prepare for the new season, even if everything to do with football seems trivial right now. And that's certainly what we're finding as we try to cover football - none of it really matters.
So rather than cover transfer gossip and wild speculation, here's a discussion piece on something incredibly trivial and unremarkable. An attempt to cover football at an impossible time.
Liverpool lack homegrown players in their squad right now after Trent Alexander-Arnold, Caoimhin Kelleher and Jarell Quansah all left. The club got good money for the trio, all things considered, but they'll need replacing.
Not just because they're talented but because they were all developed at Liverpool. That's a big hit to the homegrown quota and while Jeremie Frimpong helps alleviate the pressure, more is needed.
Especially if homegrown players continue to leave. We'll see what happens with Harvey Elliott, for instance.
Liverpool need to find players who can boost their quota, then. And we think they might find a very useful one at Arsenal.
Arsenal are struggling to renew Ethan Nwaneri's contract. The Athletic lays out the situation - he's unsure about playing time at the Emirates.
Until he has guarantees there, Nwaneri isn't sure he wants to sign a long-term contract. Arsenal, in turn, can't afford to lose him for free next year.
It creates a pressured situation and one where Liverpool might be able to take advantage. The Reds, after all, have an advantage that Arsenal lack.
Bukayo Saka is the real problem for Arsenal. Most of Nwaneri's starts last season came as a replacement for the winger while he was injured.
But with Saka back and holding down that position for the long-term, there's no easy way into the team for Nwaneri. And no easy way in for years.
Liverpool, though, can essentially offer Nwaneri a backup role to Mo Salah that becomes a first-choice role within two years. That's assuming that the Egyptian is in fact human and will begin to slow down soon.
Federico Chiesa is thought to favour a move back to Italy, too, which would leave Liverpool without a winger there who could backup Salah. Again, Nwaneri makes sense.
He could be the future for Liverpool on that flank while also boosting the homegrown quota. Arsenal's need to sell - if the correct pressure is applied - makes him available when he really shouldn't be.
And he might be the solution Liverpool are after.