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Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace and Florian Wirtz of Liverpool battle for the ball during the Community Shield at Wembley(Image: Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)

So continues the great Liverpool transfer debate.

While interest in Alexander Isak continues to dominate the agenda, the lack of options at centre-back is becoming an increasing concern for many Reds observers.

That was brought into sharp focus once again as the defence suffered another wobble in twice allowing Crystal Palace a route back into the game.

There is obvious mitigation for an uncharacteristically poor performance from Virgil van Dijk, the skipper culpable for both Palace goals but clearly still feeling the after-effects of the illness suffered earlier in the week.

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Ibrahima Konate, though, was not much more convincing, while new full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong will need time to properly adapt.

At least Alisson Becker remains reliable, once again underlining his position as the world’s best goalkeeper with a series of good saves.

But the wayward displays of Van Dijk and Konate, along with the ongoing absence of the injured Joe Gomez, were a reminder of why Liverpool need a new central defender.

Marc Guehi, impressive in opposition, remains a target, but won’t come cheap.

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And a glance at the bench underlined Slot, who hinted at the need for a new forward afterwards, remains a couple of players short.

That September 1 deadline creeps ever nearer.

Midfielders fail audition

Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister had been mainstays in the new-look base of Liverpool’s midfield under Arne Slot last season.

Yes, the duo were quietly effective during the first half as Liverpool enjoyed plentiful possession, Szoboszlai typically busy and Jones dutifully attending to defensive duty.

After the break, however, was a different story, Palace and the excellent Adam Wharton increasing the intensity with Szoboszlai coughing up possession too cheaply and Jones fading from view.

Ahead of them, Florian Wirtz travelled a steep learning curve of playing in English football, although few opponents will be quite as combative as Palace.

Having revelled in patches of freedom early on, Wirtz was visibly unhappy at the occasional physical buffeting he received after the break, although not once did he shirk the challenge.

A petulant booking for kicking the ball away perhaps highlighted his frustration.

Wirtz will be a marked man this season.

Reds clock ticking

A total of 77 days had passed between Liverpool lifting the Premier League trophy after facing Crystal Palace and the Londoners then forcing the Reds to watch them claim the Community Shield.

But the only countdown that matters right now is the one ticking down to Friday evening and the start of Liverpool’s title defence at home to Bournemouth.

The worry is Arne Slot’s side aren’t quite ready collectively, the task of integrating so many new players made more difficult by an understandably disrupted pre-season preparation.

As on Monday night in the friendly win over Athletic Bilbao, the Reds started strongly against Palace but faded the longer the game progressed, the energy of their first-half efforts absent for large periods after the break.

Few could grumble with the final outcome, although Liverpool aided their opponents by once again imploding in spectacular fashion during the penalty shoot-out.

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The traditional curtain-raiser, though, has rarely been indicative of the season ahead in recent times.