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Liverpool’s penalty shoot-out defeat against Crystal Palace in the Community Shield at Wembley Stadium last weekend raised plenty of eyebrows across the football world.

Several bookmakers reacted by lengthening their odds on the Reds to claim the Premier League title for just the third time in their history next season. 

For punters inclined towards using sports betting with fast withdrawal platforms, Liverpool are now an enticing proposition in the outright market to win the Premier League.

They have splashed the cash on several new arrivals during the summer transfer window, but still want more acquisitions before the deadline on September 1.

Van Dijk acknowledges defensive troubles

Central defence is an area of concern of Liverpool, with Virgil van Dijk in the veteran stage of his career and Ibrahima Konate facing an uncertain future at the club.

Van Dijk struggled against Palace, with Ismaila Sarr causing him endless problems.

However, he had spent the previous five days in bed with a virus.

Liverpool have looked vulnerable at the back during pre-season, and the Dutchman was unable to put his finger on the reasons behind their fragility.

“If it was that simple, I would have told you immediately and we would have fixed it,” Van Dijk said (h/t the Guardian).

We have to get back to it.”

Liverpool eager to lay future defensive foundations

Van Dijk subsequently expressed confidence that Liverpool would pull out all the stops to boost their defensive options before the transfer window closes.

They are in talks for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, but it is unclear if they will sign him this summer or wait until he is a free agent next year.

The 25-year-old is first-choice for England and looks ready to take the next step in his career by signing for one of the Premier League’s big-hitters.

Guehi may potentially be concerned that he would not necessarily be first-choice at Liverpool this season, which could impact his chances of featuring at the 2026 World Cup.

A switch to a back three is not beyond the realms of possibility, particularly now the Reds have Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez operating in the full-back positions.

Liverpool are also close to signing Parma’s teenage centre-back Giovanni Leoni, and he would be a stellar addition to the squad despite his inexperience.

He ranks highly in numerous defensive metrics, although he needs to work on his distribution.

Despite this, he could become the cornerstone of Liverpool’s over the next few years.

If Liverpool get the deals for Guehi and Leoni over the line, they will have a partnership in place that can ultimately replace Van Dijk and Konate.

The Frenchman looks destined to join La Liga giants Real Madrid, although it will likely be next summer before the transfer is completed.

Having secured Van Dijk’s services until the summer of 2027, the Reds have more peace of mind where he is concerned.

However, he will be 36 at that point.

While Van Dijk will be ranked favourably amongst the legendary players who represented the club in years gone by, he knows he must be replaced at some point.

Guehi and Leoni have the collective ability to step into his shoes and provide Liverpool with the foundations they need to stay ahead of their rivals.

Written by Alan Spencer