Craig Burley thinks Liverpool possibly securing the transfer of Moises Caicedo from Brighton and Hove Albion would be a ‘huge, huge’ move and perhaps better than Declan Rice, who could be Arsenal bound.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool already have Alexis Mac Allister through their doors after he worked wonders alongside Moises Caicedo last season as Roberto De Zerbi’s side reached Europe for the first time in the club’s history.
But with Liverpool, Arsenal and a host of top Premier League clubs in need of midfield players this summer, then it’s putting the likes of Declan Rice and Caicedo well in the spotlight, as Burley added that it would be a ‘huge, huge move in the engine room’ for the Reds if they added the 21-year-old to their ranks, as he told ESPN.
A player of steel, aggression, energy and an outstanding reader of the game. You could just envisage Caicedo sitting in front of Liverpool’s backline, mopping up the mess, cleaning house, and then allowing the more creative players to cook.
WIth Fabinho’s form falling off a cliff last season, the Reds missed that defensive structure in front of their back four badly and now they have to refresh, hence the want to rechange and change their midfield.
Of course, a certain West Ham captain could be heading to Arsenal soon, but for Burley, he explained why bringing in someone like Caicedo to Anfield would be better than Rice.
“Those two (Mac Allister and Caicedo) would be big,” said Burley. “Age, 21, and the fact the way Brighton played, especially under De Zerbi, the possession of the ball was similar to Potter, but they got forward a lot quicker.
“That’s what Liverpool did, in their pomp. They moved it from back to front. Quickly and with more quality than anybody in Europe, at one point. They would win it back, then bang, they were at the back four.
“So, he would be, I think there is an argument to say that you would take him over Declan Rice, anyway. It’s close. He’s such a good young player. That would be a huge, huge move in the engine room for Liverpool.”
Fabinho needs a kick up the backside
Someone like Jordan Henderson could use the excuse that, at 33, he simply doesn’t have the legs to provide what Klopp wants his midfield players to do on a regular basis.
Someone like Harvey Elliott could point towards his age, whilst it’s obvious to all that Thiago Alcantara’s game is with the ball, not without it.
But Fabinho’s fall off, at just 29, was a massive issue last season, and whilst he shouldn’t be moved on, he needs a kick up the backside, and perhaps, that will bring the best out of him again and a signing like Caicedo would do just that.
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