Liverpool are on the cusp of a fresh chapter with Andoni Iraola at the helm, though Phil Thompson believes additional signings remain essential.
The Merseyside club still require approximately four or five further additions before they can mount a serious challenge for Premier League honours this term.
That is the assessment of ex-Reds skipper Phil Thompson, who harbours worries about the defensive options available to Andoni Iraola with the opening league fixture against Newcastle United just days away.
France international Ibrahima Konate and experienced left-back Andy Robertson both departed Anfield when their contracts concluded in June. Jeremy Jacquet has since been secured from Rennes in a £60million transfer, while Barcelona captain Roland Araujo has arrived on a season-long loan, further bolstering the central defensive ranks.
Nevertheless, Thompson, 72, himself a former Liverpool centre-back, maintains that more signings are necessary. During the most recent Footy Accumulators No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, in association with BOYLE Sports, he stated that the defensive unit requires strengthening. He noted that if Jacquet is not fully prepared, there are concerns about who would fill that role, adding that recruitment must continue.
Thompson believes the squad could benefit from four or possibly five new faces across various positions, particularly at the back, in midfield and on the flanks, emphasizing that quality cover is needed for every position.
Despite Thompson’s clear desire for transfer activity, Liverpool persist in their high-profile attempt to sign Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, and with owners Fenway Sports Group having divested a minority stake in the club for roughly £1.4billion recently, the former captain anticipates significant transfers may follow.
Thompson noted that the financial position allows for spending given the club’s success in player sales, and pointed to the investment interest in major clubs like Liverpool and Manchester United as evidence of their global standing, suggesting such commercial activity enhances buying power even within existing constraints.
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Regardless of what arrivals materialise before the transfer window closes, the squad is venturing into uncharted territory under new manager Andoni Iraola.
Thompson, who secured seven league championships and three European Cups during his Anfield career, believes the Spanish coach can implement the changes needed to win supporters back but has cautioned that the challenge differs substantially from his previous role at Bournemouth.
Thompson observed that change can be positive or negative, and in this case it stems from underperformance rather than Jurgen Klopp departing on a high note. He suggested new leadership brings fresh concepts and requires players to adapt quickly, noting that Arne Slot exceeded expectations by winning the league, with players having built on Klopp’s foundation. Thompson hopes this transition proves different.
He emphasized the need to restore intensity and reconnect with the fanbase, which has been lost, pointing to Iraola’s achievements at Bournemouth. However, Thompson stressed that Bournemouth operates under different circumstances.
At Bournemouth, the team frequently entered matches as underdogs and relied heavily on counter-attacking strategies. Thompson identified breaking down well-organised defensive units as one of Liverpool’s primary difficulties. He suggested Iraola must discover the right approach to maximise a player like Florian Wirtz, and that having Alexander Isak scoring freely would prove highly beneficial.