Liverpool need to make four signings after Newcastle draw as deadline approaches
Daily Express · Charlie Malam · 2026-08-23T17:33:46+00:00 · nguồn gốc
Liverpool need to make four signings after Newcastle draw as deadline approaches
Liverpool's squad looks short in several areas despite rescuing a late draw against Newcastle United at St James' Park on the opening weekend.
Liverpool rescued a 99th-minute draw away at Newcastle United as they avoided starting the Andoni Iraola era with defeat at St James' Park. But there were still huge areas of concern for the Reds, who were twice undone by counter-attacks and looked set to pay the price on the opening weekend of the new Premier League season until a last-gasp penalty. Anthony Elanga put the Magpies in front after only five minutes on Tyneside. Cody Gakpo scored a long-range equaliser but Joe Willock restored the lead for the hosts a mere 120 seconds later.
Yet substitute Victor Munoz won a penalty out of a clumsy Lewis Hall challenge deep into stoppage time and Dominik Szoboszlai lashed in a spectacular spot-kick to rescue a point. Still, there were lots of things to be worried about for the Merseyside outfit. And Express Sport looks at four signings the Reds need to make before the September 1 transfer deadline...
Right-back
Jeremie Frimpong has been at Liverpool for 12 months and his only highlights have come in attack. He is pacey, which can be an asset in some instances, but not good enough on the defensive side of the game and his deliveries here were dire.
As a back-up right winger or a right-back option in games at home to teams who will park the bus, Frimpong is fine. In away games, he isn't, as this match proved. Liverpool need an upgrade, especially with Conor Bradley unlikely to play again for several months and Joe Gomez also regularly unavailable.
Left-back
The hope was that Iraola's appointment could unlock the best of Milos Kerkez. If Liverpool can expect a season full of performances like this then left-back is an area of massive, massive concern.
Kostas Tsimikas is the main back-up to Kerkez but the Greek will never displace his team-mate as a starter. He has never been at the level to start consistently for Liverpool. Selling Tsimikas and signing a more experienced, calm-headed left-back who can push Kerkez would be a big help to Iraola. You could argue they shouldn't have let Andy Robertson leave.
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A defensive-minded midfielder
A two-man midfield pivot of Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai is asking for trouble. Neither is inclined to defend. That was shown when they were the two furthest forward Liverpool players on the pitch as Newcastle launched their counter to make it 1-0 so early on. Szoboszlai is a willing presser but lacks the necessary discipline to be at his best in a pivot.
Gravenberch's positioning off the ball and passing are also below par. Liverpool will concede many counter-attack goals unless they recruit a midfielder capable of covering ground and winning the ball back consistently. They don't have either in their squad. Brentford's Ibrahim Sangare looks like he would have been perfect but Monaco's Lamine Camara is an alternative option.
A right-winger
He is a young player of huge talent but Rio Ngumoha is not a right-sided winger. It is as simple as that. The teenager failed to complete a dribble and had just one touch in the opposition box. His one shot was blocked.
Ngumoha's best asset is his ability to cut in and go directly at his man on his stronger right foot, which is he plays from the left. On the opposite side, Liverpool need an attacker who can inside and be a threat on his left foot. Yankuba Minteh is left-footed and gettable before the deadline but won't be fit to play until at least October.