Defensive frailties canine Liverpool, however new signings present high quality

LONDON — It was a day throughout which Liverpool each dazzled and dissatisfied. The Premier League champions by no means fell behind in Sunday’s FA Community Shield and but, finally, it was their opponents Crystal Palace who went house with the prize after following up an entertaining 2-2 draw with a 3-2 penalty shootout victory at Wembley.

For the second time in a matter of months — after March’s 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United within the Carabao Cup closing — Liverpool had been compelled to go away the capital empty handed having did not ship the type of efficiency befitting of a staff that can go into the brand new season as title favourites. There have been positives to take for Arne Slot’s facet but additionally loads of classes to study as they put together to start out their 2025-26 marketing campaign in earnest at house to AFC Bournemouth on Friday.

A lot of the noise round Liverpool in latest weeks has surrounded their uncharacteristic extravagance within the switch market. The Reds have thus far spent greater than £270 million, bolstering Slot’s title-winning squad with the additions of Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Hugo Ekitike and Giorgi Mamardashvili.

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A good portion of that monetary outlay has been recouped via the transfers of forwards Darwin Núñez and Luis Díaz, to Al Hilal and Bayern Munich respectively, whereas the departures of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarell Quansah and Tyler Morton have additionally raised further funds.

However, in opposition to Palace, it was clear that that is nonetheless a squad in want of some surgical procedure, with the dearth of top-quality depth a fear.

An harm to defender Joe Gomez meant Liverpool had been unable to call a recognised centre-back on the bench at Wembley, which can certainly be a priority for Slot, regardless of his insistence that a number of of his gamers are able to deputising. Maybe extra regarding for the Liverpool boss, although, might be that — regardless of fielding what’s arguably his first-choice again 4 — Liverpool seemed defensively fragile, with captain Virgil van Dijk conceding a first-half penalty earlier than Ismaïla Sarr struck for the FA Cup winners after the break.

“We have changed 4 gamers and generally you want time to adapt offensively or defensively,” Slot mentioned after the sport. “In opposition to Bilbao [Athletic Club] we did not concede probabilities, simply two set items. I do not suppose we conceded that a lot at this time, simply two objectives. Possibly I neglect a couple of. It felt to me the [second] equaliser was their second massive probability of the sport. There must perhaps be just a little little bit of adjustment defensively.”

From a Liverpool perspective, a lot of the frustration will stem from the truth that they really began the competition very nicely, with new signing Ekitike curling house a chic effort inside simply 4 minutes. Regardless of Liverpool having spent an preliminary £69 million to signal the 23-year-old from Eintracht Frankfurt, his arrival on Merseyside has been considerably overshadowed by the continued saga surrounding Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, who was the topic of a rejected £110 million bid from the Anfield membership earlier this month.

Whereas Liverpool’s curiosity within the Sweden worldwide stays, Ekitike’s completed show — scoring together with his first shot in English soccer — proves he has completely no intention of being an understudy.

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Crystal Palace beat Liverpool on penalties to win Group Defend

Crystal Palace win the Group Defend on penalties following a 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Wembley.

The France worldwide’s early purpose set the tone for a vastly encouraging aggressive debut, throughout which he confirmed loads of technical aptitude and spectacular burgeoning chemistry together with his new teammates. And Ekitike was not the one new arrival to catch the attention, with Frimpong scoring an audacious (with a slice of luck) second purpose for Liverpool after Palace had restored parity via a coolly taken spot-kick from Jean-Philippe Mateta. In the midst of the park, marquee signing Wirtz confirmed flashes of the genius that compelled Liverpool to spend an preliminary £100 million to signal him from Bayer Leverkusen, whereas Kerkez turned in a usually all-action shift at left-back.

All through preseason, all the Reds’ new arrivals have provided, to various levels, trigger for pleasure. Nevertheless, if Liverpool are intent on defending their crown this time period, they’d be clever so as to add additional reinforcements earlier than the switch window closes on Sep. 1.

And Slot received the chance to witness one among his defensive targets in motion first-hand, in Palace captain Marc Guéhi. The England worldwide has one 12 months remaining on his contract and has loads of admirers at Anfield, although the monetary phrases of any potential deal must be proper for Liverpool to maneuver earlier than the deadline.

On the different finish of the pitch, the noise surrounding Isak is unlikely to decrease any time quickly and, with simply three senior forwards at their disposal, it’s clear Slot’s facet have to act shortly to spice up their attacking choices.

“After two years of no change, we introduced some huge cash in after which I feel it’s a good second to get new power in,” Slot mentioned. “We’ve got misplaced 4 starters and gamers which have performed loads for us.

“Some wished to go away like Trent. Because of that, now we have to convey gamers in and that’s what we did. We’ve got to verify we’re prepared.”

If Slot is searching for a constructive omen forward of the brand new marketing campaign, the truth that solely one of many final 14 Group Defend winners have gone on to win the Premier League that very same season ought to present one. Nevertheless, the Liverpool boss might be nicely conscious that, if his staff hope to be enjoying on this fixture as champions once more subsequent summer time, they nonetheless have loads of work to do.