Liverpool’s Defensive Struggles and Transfer Plans Amidst Title Race Challenges

One of Liverpool’s primary strengths during their Premier League title triumph last season was their defensive stability. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate were formidable in central defense, while the dynamic full-back duo of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson consistently excelled on the flanks. Although Alexander-Arnold transferred to Real Madrid over the summer, Liverpool sought to reinforce their defense by acquiring Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen and Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth in the same transfer window. Additionally, promising young talent Giovanni Leoni was signed, leading many to believe that the Merseyside club would remain difficult to overcome this season.

However, the situation has taken a downturn. After winning their first five league matches, Liverpool’s performance plummeted from late September through to late November, resulting in six losses from their subsequent seven games and a significant drop in the league standings, effectively diminishing their title hopes.

The team has struggled particularly with defending set-pieces, which prompted the club to part ways with set-piece coach Aaron Briggs. Having joined the backroom team at the start of the 2024-25 season, Briggs oversaw a troubling trend where Liverpool conceded 12 goals from set-pieces this season. This prompted the club to announce his departure earlier this week.

Captain Virgil van Dijk has voiced his frustration with the defensive failures, particularly regarding set-pieces. He commented, “We have defended many set-pieces very well. However, we have conceded too many goals in that manner, and it pains us. We need to improve, focusing on repetition, training, and analysis. It’s often not about the initial contact but rather the second phase that proves decisive.”

In response to their well-publicized defensive issues, Liverpool is reportedly taking steps to reinforce their backline. According to The Mirror, the club is nearing completion of a £43 million ($58 million/€49.3 million) deal for Club Brugge defender Joel Ordonez, following Chelsea’s withdrawal from the competition for his signature. An initial fee of £35 million has been agreed, with potential bonuses based on additional performance metrics.

Liverpool had previously aimed to secure another center-back by the end of the summer transfer window, despite significant investments in players like Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, and Hugo Ekitike. They had targeted Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi, but the deal ultimately collapsed, leaving him to fulfill the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park.

Ordonez is a highly-regarded 21-year-old who joined Club Brugge from Independiente del Valle in 2022. He has since made over 100 appearances for the Belgian side, contributing to a league title and two cup victories.

Liverpool faces a challenging road ahead to re-enter the title race. Nevertheless, under the guidance of their manager, the team has shown signs of improvement, rising to fourth place, six points behind third-placed Aston Villa. They are currently unbeaten in eight matches, although frustrations persist, as demonstrated by a recent goalless draw against Leeds United, where both teams had goals disallowed. Liverpool will look to regain their winning form on Sunday against Fulham before facing a challenging match against league leaders Arsenal.