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Liverpool is just over a week away from embarking on its Premier League title defense, and after splashing nearly $400 million on new signings this summer, you’d expect the Reds to be more than ready for the challenge.

If anything though, the announcement of the Reds’ team for their first game against Athletic Club on Monday just underlined that there is still work needed to be done on Arne Slot’s squad - and Alexander Isak is far from the priority right now ahead of kicking off the new season against Bournemouth.

The pursuit of the Newcastle striker has of course dominated the headlines, and with each passing day, it feels as though the possibility of him moving to Anfield grows - even if Liverpool isn’t currently planning on launching a new bid for him.



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With the likes of Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo, there is plenty of firepower to call upon even without the Premier League’s second-top scorer from last season.

Where Liverpool is lacking though is in defense, and it’s an issue that needs rectifying quickly.

Having bid farewell to Jarell Quansah earlier this summer, Slot is down to just the three senior options at center-back, and with Joe Gomez’s injury problems striking again this summer, there’s every possibility that the Reds will go into the opening game of their title defense with just two of those available.



Virgil van Dijk missed the games against Athletic Club through illness

Looking at the whole team for the opening game against Athletic, there is no doubt that Slot planned on playing a younger team, although there was certainly a bare bones feel to the back four.

If we see Trey Nyoni partnering Andy Robertson at center-back during the regular season, that would well and truly trump the days of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho taking those positions during the 2020/21 injury crisis.

And yet, Slot didn’t have much other choice against Liverpool’s Bilbao opponents

Liverpool boss Arne Slot had limited options in defense against Athletic Club

Even before anyone knew of Van Dijk being out, it was clear there wouldn’t be anything beyond the Reds captain and Ibrahima Konate for the second game.

The talk around Marc Guehi continues, although the Crystal Palace captain’s situation is more than a little complicated given he has just a year left on his contract.

You can certainly understand why Liverpool could be minded to wait for him to become a free agent rather than spend a large sum of money on him this summer, but if that is the case, then another option needs to be found for the time being.

Heading into the new season with just Van Dijk, Konate and an injury-prone Gomez is far too big a risk
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