Liverpool youngster Harvey Elliott would struggle to nail down a starting berth in midfield for ‘many top ten’ Premier League sides, former Anfield ace Jermaine Pennant tells talkSPORT (2 January, 10.40pm) after that stunning 3-1 defeat to Brentford.
When you look at those who started in the centre of the park at the Brentford Community Stadium, is it any wonder Thomas Frank’s hard-running, high-energy side came out on top in West London? Thiago, now 31, has never been the most physical of players. Fabinho looks like a sorry shadow of his formerly irrepressible self.
Harvey Elliott, meanwhile, is still only 19 years of age. He’s not exactly a natural midfielder either, with some of his most influential Liverpool performances coming in a wider, more attacking role.
Elliott was subbed off at half-time alongside Virgil van Dijk on Monday evening.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool suffer 3-1 defeat at Brentford
“I totally agree (that Liverpool’s midfield is a weak link),” Pennant said after Liverpool’s fifth defeat in just 17 Premier League games. A result which left them further adrift of the Champions League spots.
“I think Fabinho, now, we’ve seen the best of him. We’ve used the best of Fabinho. He’s fell off that little cliff. Thiago, he’s great on the ball but he’s not going to give you that protection.
“I think Elliott, one for the future. Right now, he won’t get in many top ten midfields, let alone Liverpool’s. With those three players there, it’s lacklustre. We definitely need to strengthen in those areas, for sure.”
Just three days before that Brentford capitulation, Kieran Dewsbury-Hall stormed almost entirely unopposed through Jurgen Klopp’s paper-thin midfield before opening the scoring at Anfield. Aston Villa, meanwhile, had more than enough chances to beat the once-rampant Reds on Boxing Day too; their wastefulness in front of goal costing Unai Emery’s side dear.
‘We cannot play Monopoly’
Klopp, meanwhile, has all-but ruled out the prospect of a big-money midfield arrival during the January transfer window. Jude Bellingham and Enzo Fernandez are valued in excess of £100 million by Borussia Dortmund and Benfica respectively, after all.
“I don’t want to disappoint anybody and their dreams,” Klopp argues amid claims that Liverpool should have used the £35 million they spent on Cody Gakpo on bringing in a dynamic, up-and-coming central midfielder.
“We sign an outstanding player like Cody Gakpo and the next thing you read is ‘who’s next?’ Honestly, we cannot play like Monopoly. We never did and I don’t understand it. Of course, we cannot just spend and never could.”
Liverpool, per Sky Sports, could return for Wolves’ Matheus Nunes. Bellingham’s price-tag may prove prohibitive while World Cup winner Fernandez seems bound for Chelsea. Nunes would cost in excess of £50 million; a sizeable fee but far less than Dortmund or Benfica are demanding.
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