Liverpool confirm the four signings they need before transfer deadline day after Newcastle draw

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Liverpool supporters already knew their team could be in trouble again this season even before they served up a lukewarm start to the campaign away at Newcastle on Sunday.The Reds have had a bizarre and confusing transfer window, so failing to really address any of the issues that plagued Arne Slot last term.That has left them with a whole pile of work to do before the deadline a week on Tuesday, and having now seen evidence out on the pitch, that work should amount to the arrival of four new players for Andoni Iraola to beef out the Liverpool squad with. Who do you think was Liverpool’s worst player as they snatched a draw with Newcastle?

There were some really poor performances… Credit: Getty Images/Molly Darlington Liverpool definitely need new wide forwardsWhile the other positions on this list may feel pie in the sky to supporters in terms of Liverpool actually rectifying the blatant issues, they do at least appear likely to remedy their lack of threat in attack.The Reds got into some good positions a fair few times against Newcastle, it certainly was not all bad, but when the ball made its way to the final third, things were dry and uninspired.Cody Gakpo provided a spark, and if he can keep playing this way – and, crucially not be sold – Liverpool have a very good option there, but they also need more pace and unpredictability on the left wing. Rio Ngumoha is not ready to play that role as a regular starter, and though Victor Munoz looks further down the line than the 17-year-old, he is also needed elsewhere.Liverpool are ready to lodge a third bid for Yankuba Minteh according to reports overnight on Sunday, and if the Gambian arrives along with Barcola, these two boxes will be ticked fairly emphatically.Defensive midfield help remains elusive for LiverpoolPerhaps the biggest takeaway from Sunday’s game, at least in terms of the transfer market and what Liverpool still need, was that they are shooting themselves in the foot in midfield.All summer long the noise from Anfield has been that a defensive midfielder – or in fact any midfielder at all – would not be a priority this summer, but fans and pundits can see that this is a mistake.Photo by George Wood/Getty ImagesRyan Gravenberch is a very good player, but he has shown time and again that he is not the man to anchor this Liverpool team in midfield.

Unfortunately, though the whole world can see it, for the moment it feels desperately unlikely that the Reds will address what has quickly become the key issue.Liverpool must sign another right-backFinally, where midfield was overlooked, the right-back conundrum was said to be of paramount importance to Liverpool this summer.Slot had been plagued by issues in the position last year, with Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones having to fill in and a question mark over who would play there from game to game. There is still time to fix some things in the transfer market… If Jeremie Frimpong can stay fit, he will answer the latter question for the time being, but Sunday’s game showed why this is not good news for Liverpool.The Dutchman has his qualities, but he is just not reliable on the ball.