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If there's one reason Liverpool have romped to the Premier League title, it has been their ability to churn out positive results week after week due to a regular level of performance.

Of course, that Arne Slot inherited a strong squad from predecessor Jurgen Klopp - and was unable to overly tinker with the squad during last summer's transfer window - ensured familiarity ultimately bred contentment on the pitch.

And that is best represented with the Reds' rearguard, which has largely been allowed to organically grow over the past few years.



In the last two seasons, only Arsenal have conceded fewer goals in the Premier League.

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Since Ibrahima Konate was snapped up from RB Leipzig four years ago, the only new defensive arrival at Liverpool remains Calvin Ramsay from Aberdeen in the summer of 2022.

That the Scottish right-back has subsequently made two appearances for the Reds - none of which have come after November 2022 - underlines the minimal impact of the now 21-year-old.

There have in that time been two notable graduates from the Academy, with Jarell Quansah emerging as a centre-back option and Conor Bradley now expected to see out the campaign as first-choice right-back given the imminent departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer to Real Madrid.

This summer, though, could see the biggest single overhaul of Liverpool's defensive options since Brendan Rodgers brought in five such players at the start of the 2013/14 season.

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One new signing has already been confirmed, with the Reds having last year agreed a £29million deal with Valencia to bring Georgia international goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili to Anfield during the close season.

And there are almost certain to be others.

Left-back has long been a priority for a refresh, with Andy Robertson now 31 and Kostas Tsimikas having made only 34 Premier League starts across five seasons at the club.

The Reds do not want to block the pathway of Bradley, with Slot having this week talked up the Northern Ireland international.

However, the need for recognised competition in the position may compel Liverpool to recruit, given the other squad alternatives - Quansah, Curtis Jones and Joe Gomez - would all be playing out of position.

Talks over a new deal have yet to reach a resolution, with rumours suggesting Paris Saint-Germain are interested in signing the player this summer with Real Madrid said to be open to taking the defender on a free next year.

Liverpool are planning on having Quansah as part of their squad next season despite interest from Newcastle United, while Gomez was close to joining the Magpies last summer in a deal that would have seen winger Anthony Gordon move in the opposite direction.

But should a new centre-back be required, the Reds are among those monitoring 20-year-old Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen.

Otherwise, however, it could be a very different Liverpool rearguard that begins the defence of the Premier League title in August.


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