With Fabinho’s departure to Saudi Arabia, 18-year-old midfielder Stefan Bajcetic is now the only player in Liverpool whose main job is at the bottom of midfield.
The departure of Jordan Henderson and James Milner also coincides with the loss of backup and the search for a replacement.
One player who is seen as a major contender is Romeo Lavia, a Belgian midfielder who plays for Southampton. After joining from Manchester City last summer, he has been a regular since the start of the Premier League season, and has continued to show performances throughout the season that are hard to believe for a teenager.
However, his experience in the domestic league was limited to 29 games last season. With no experience in the first team of a strong club, it remains to be seen how far he can go.
Curtis Jones and Trent Alexander-Arnold anchored the team in preseason, but former Scottish defender Steve Nicol, who played a total of 454 games at Anfield, continues to stress that the team should make an immediate impact.
“Again, this is a potential player we are talking about,”
“If Liverpool want to be pushing anybody for the Premier League title, the Champions League or any of the big prizes, they need somebody who is going to be playing now and who is going to do the job.”
“They can’t wait on a Lavia getting better or hoping that Curtis Jones can fill in. That doesn’t get you Premier League or Champions League titles.”
“So, it’s a big problem right now.”
Curtis Jones has the potential to be a defensive midfielder in the future, but at the moment he lacks the ability to win the ball outright and is better suited to a pressing role as an inside half.
Thiago Alcántara and Alexis Mac Allister could also play, but their weaknesses in defending against opponents make it a burden for them to play alone in a position that requires physical contact. In this respect, Rabia has the right position and the right physical shape, but his experience could be a problem.
On the other hand, it is also true that Liverpool does not have ample funds. They need smart reinforcements, not just big names, and I would like to believe that Jurgen Klopp’s team will complete the “right reinforcements”