Liverpool ‘need’ Borussia Dortmund ace Jude Bellingham at Anfield after Jurgen Klopp’s midfield deficiencies were brutally exposed in the 2-1 Premier League defeat to Manchester United, Trevor Sinclair tells talkSPORT (23 August, 10.50am).
While it’s far too soon to suggest that Monday’s north west derby represented the passing of a baton – Man United were 4-0 down at Brentford just over a week ago after all – it’s difficult to escape the feeling that some of Klopp’s most trusted lieutenants might not have too many battles left in them.
Jordan Henderson and James Milner – both of whom struggled with the intensity of Erik ten Hag’s fired-up hosts – have a combined age of 68. Thiago Alcantara is also the wrong side of 30, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain remains as injury prone as ever, Naby Keita appears to be on his way out, and Curtis Jones, for all his potential, hasn’t really developed as Liverpool had hoped.
“You look at that midfield, I thought it looked old last night. I thought it looked leggy, jaded,” former Man City, West Ham and England winger Sinclair said at full-time.
Can Jude Bellingham save Liverpool’s season?
According to the Daily Mail, Liverpool are confident about securing a club-record £100 million deal for their number one midfield target – Borussia Dortmund wonderkid Jude Bellingham – during the summer of 2023.
Sinclair, however, feels Klopp and co should consider pushing those plans forward.
“It’s been banded about; ‘Jude Bellingham to Liverpool’ I think they need that,” he adds. “If they don’t get that dynamism in midfield, I don’t think they’re gonna be as competitive as the fans want them to be.
“(Competitiveness) looks like top two for Liverpool. Anything other than that, it’s a downgrade on last season.
“They were in for all four trophies last season, right until the very end. To go off the back of that, after winning the Community Shield, it’s been a real underwhelming start.”
“We’ve got ten days left in the transfer window,” Sinclair points out. “I honestly think they need help. Where’s the creativity in that side?
Don’t get me wrong, I really like Harvey Elliot and I thought he really showed some superb touches last night. But he doesn’t seem to have that mobility where he beats two players and whips it in the box
“You need these players!”
With two points from nine, this is Liverpool’s worst start to a season since Brendan Rodgers’ debut campaign at Anfield; when Sebastian Coates, Oussama Assaidi and Fabio Borini were all wearing red.
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