Excitement has surged recently over the potential arrival of Alexander Isak at Liverpool, but Saturday’s loss to AC Milan served as a timely reminder that the club has more urgent concerns to address in the transfer market.
After a week dominated by talk of signings, it might have been easy to overlook the fact that Liverpool had a match to play on Saturday.
While much of the attention remains fixed on Isak, Arne Slot took the opportunity in Hong Kong to get another look at his revamped squad, which now includes seven new arrivals.
Following convincing victories over Preston and Stoke, facing AC Milan marked a clear step up in opposition for the Premier League title holders as they continued their preparations. However, their first match on Asian soil didn’t quite go to plan.
Despite goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo, Liverpool slipped to a 4-2 defeat — their first loss of the preseason. While these games aren’t always an accurate measure of what’s to come, they do offer valuable insights.
Slot will have plenty to ponder after the performance at Kai Tak Stadium, particularly in terms of how easily his side conceded chances and goals.
With possession, there were positive signs — particularly from Szoboszlai, Florian Wirtz, and Rio Ngumoha — but defensively, the team looked exposed.
Injuries didn’t help matters. Joe Gomez had returned home due to an Achilles issue, while Wataru Endo missed the match through illness. As a result, the defence had to be reshuffled, with Ryan Gravenberch and Kostas Tsimikas partnering Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.
Gravenberch, to his credit, put in a solid performance — arguably outperforming Van Dijk, who struggled against Rafael Leao for Milan’s opener — but deploying the midfielder in defence is far from ideal. It’s also not a sustainable solution, especially with the season opener against Bournemouth just weeks away.
The defeat highlighted a crucial truth: even if Isak does end up signing, his arrival won’t resolve Liverpool’s defensive issues if midfielders are being forced to fill in at the back.
At present, Van Dijk, Konate, and Gomez are the only senior centre-backs available. With the new campaign fast approaching, relying on Konate and Gomez throughout the season would be risky given their fitness histories.
Liverpool have taken a calculated risk in allowing Jarell Quansah to join Bayer Leverkusen, and as Slot has acknowledged, a replacement has yet to be brought in. That situation must be resolved swiftly.
The Reds cannot begin the season with only three established defenders. Before pursuing any deal for Isak, Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes must prioritise reinforcing the backline.
Marc Guehi has been frequently mentioned as a target this summer, but with the buzz around Isak, the Crystal Palace defender seems to have faded from focus. While his contract is due to expire next year, waiting for a free transfer is not a luxury Liverpool can afford.
Isak might be an exciting prospect, but Liverpool’s immediate need lies in defence. Whether it’s Guehi or another option, a new centre-back must be signed without delay.
In other news, Florian Wirtz Hints at Liverpool Partnership as Fresh Option Appears for Arne Slot