Liverpool are satisfied with the state of their current squad and have no intentions of strengthening in the January market as things stand, Reds transfer expert David Lynch has revealed.
The Merseysiders lost 3-2 against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday and finished first in the Champions League table, and now face a round of 16 clash against one of Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica, Monaco or Brest.
Arne Slot left numerous first-choice players out of the squad he took with him to the Netherlands on Wednesday, and though the Reds' second-string XI struggled against the Eredivisie club, Lynch expressed his belief that Liverpool arguably have the best squad depth in Europe.
Lynch told Sports Mole: "I have not been given the impression at any point there's any desperation to get anything done or that the manager's knocking on the door. You read social media and it will tell you that there's an absolute desperation from Arne Slot to get business done [but] he's being denied by FSG.
"That's just a fiction made up by supporters - who I totally understand wanting some signings. For me, left back's a clear weakness that could hurt Liverpool at some point, particularly in a Champions League game.
"Liverpool are happy to go with what they've got, which for me, and some people would disagree, is the strongest squad in the Premier League - it's certainly one of the strongest squads in Europe."
Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate and Alexis Mac Allister were some of the stars left out of the Liverpool squad that faced PSV, and Slot should be able to field a fresh XI to take on Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday.
Liverpool's depth assessed
Eight outfield players in the Reds squad have appeared in at least 20 of Liverpool's 22 Premier League games this term, highlighting Slot's reluctance to rotate his XI.
Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota and Joe Gomez all returned to training this week after respective absences, providing the Dutch manager with options in the coming weeks.
Speaking to Sports Mole, Lynch spoke of his view that Liverpool can get by despite some weaknesses in areas such as left-back, saying: "I worry about [left-back, but] I've not been given the impression that the manager is knocking on the door and saying he's desperate to sort that.
"He's got two internationals at left-back that he feels can get through [this season], and then that's something I expect to be addressed in the summer.
"I think that's the right call. Liverpool have got things that they can do in the summer, but for now, they're happy to go with what they have and that's still enough to get them some trophies."
Kostas Tsimikas and Andrew Robertson have come under fire for their performances this season, but both have vast experience at Anfield and for their respective national teams.
© Imago
Could injuries derail Liverpool?
Liverpool led the way in the Premier League last term by two points after 30 matchweeks but collected just 12 points from their final eight games, eventually finishing third behind Arsenal and Manchester City.
There is an argument that the Reds would have ended the season in better form had they not suffered so many injuries earlier that campaign, with the likes of Salah, Alexander-Arnold, Alisson Becker and Dominik Szoboszlai all missing games in 2023-24.
When asked if Liverpool would act in the January window should an injury occur, Lynch insisted the club would only push for a long-term target, telling Sports Mole: "It'd have to be someone who they want in the long term, someone they were going to sign in the summer. They wouldn't think, 'we're going to be without him for a couple of months.' They believe they could absorb [injuries] with the options they have.
"People are saying 'what happens if there's an injury to Van Dijk, Gravenberch or Salah?.' Those three are effectively irreplaceable, but I can't think of a squad in world football that has a direct replacement for players at that level. Look at Rodri at Manchester City - if they'd lost Rodri in any of the last five or six seasons, they would have missed out on titles to Liverpool and Arsenal.
"You have players in your squad who you cannot replace, but that's the gamble you have to take. You have key players you expect to play 50 games a season, and the guy who's behind them is not going to be at the level that they are. Every squad in world football takes that gamble. Arsenal have done it with Bukayo Saka because they know you can't have someone behind him who's of that level because they will expect games."
Liverpool lead second-placed Arsenal at the top of the Premier League by six points while boasting the advantage of a game in hand, and their lead is so substantial that they can afford a dip in performances and still win the title.
Lewis Nolan
