Managing Liverpool: Arne Slot gets £65m Alexander Isak replacement as Wirtz solution found
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Liverpool are now fifth in the Premier League table and 10 points off the top spot, but there is a huge task ahead of them with a mounting injury listDespite registering a 2-1 victory over Tottenham at the weekend, Liverpool suffered a major casualty in Alexander Isak. With Mohamed Salah away with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations, Liverpool are now significantly under strength in the forward line.With the January transfer window fast approaching, Mirror Football takes a look at some of the decisions that may have to be made by Arne Slot and co. if the Anfield outfit are to challenge for Europe and perhaps still even the title.Get Semenyo inWith Isak and Cody Gakpo injured and Salah away, Slot needs to get a reinforcement in to bolster the attacking options.
Liverpool are understood to be battling with Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur for his signature, valued at £65m.Semenyo has also previously discussed his aspirations to play as a central striker, so the Premier League star could well be slotted in to replace Isak should Hugo Ekitike be rested/rotated. The Crystal Palace defender came devastatingly close to joining Slot's squad on deadline day in the summer but the deal didn't cross the line.With Manchester City and Bayern Munich among the clubs sniffing for Guehi, Liverpool must work fast to secure the deal for the former Swansea City centre-half.
He has been one of the form players this season yet again and it may be worth putting £30m on the table for Palace to ensure Liverpool get their man.They could, of course try and negotiate a deal for him in the summer but given the injuries to Giovanni Leoni and Joe Gomez, Liverpool simply have to get another centre-back in to steady the ship. Of course, Liverpool have not played with a proper number 10 since Phillipe Coutinho was at the club, but why not try something new?Liverpool have gone from Fabinho to Ryan Gravenberch as sixes in recent years and both have been excellent, with the two midfielders ahead of them allowed to flourish and explore the space in their path.However, with arrival of Wirtz it may be worth trying something a little different to accommodate for the German's abilities in that number 10 role.For example, let's get Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai in a flat midfield partnership - arguably the two best midfielders right now ahead of Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones, although the latter has been superb lately.Then, stick Wirtz in his actual position behind a potential attacking trio of Antoine Semenyo, Hugo Ekitike and Federico Chiesa.