Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Ferdinand and Owen agree on Liverpool transfer issue and have words for Klopp

mirror.co.uk, 15 September 2021, 20:12

Rio Ferdinand and Michael Owen have agreed on the biggest problem which Liverpool must address in the near future.

Compared to some of their rivals, Liverpool had a quiet summer transfer window, with Ibrahima Konate's £36million move from RB Leipzig their sole addition.

While they were inactive in the transfer market, Liverpool did use the summer for some important business.

Jordan Henderson, Virgil van Dijk, Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho and Andy Robertson all renewed their deals over August as Liverpool moved to secure some of their key players for the long-term.

However, former Manchester United defender Ferdinand believes Jurgen Klopp could have benefited from some reinforcements in attacking positions, with little depth behind Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane.

Rio Ferdinand and Michael Owen have worries over Liverpool's squad depth

"Listen, there's a place for experience and there's a place for youth, but you've got to get that balance right," he said on BT Sport.

"If you were going to level any criticism at Liverpool over the last transfer windows, you'd say they could've spent a bit more in terms of numbers and quality and add a bit more quality in the forward areas.

"They added [Diogo] Jota [last summer] who unfortunately got injured and he did really well. You'd like that bit of ability to flex your muscles.

"You look around Europe and look at the ability and then the players around that to come in, Liverpool outside the front three are way behind those teams."

Salah, Mane and Firmino all have contracts which expire at the end of June 2023, meaning Liverpool will soon have some decisions to make over their futures.

The Reds' attacking trio are also all 29 years old - and with just Divock Origi and Takumi Minamino in reserve currently - Klopp could do with some fresh faces.

"I think Liverpool are going to address it," former Liverpool striker Owen said.

Should Liverpool's ageing squad be a worry for Jurgen Klopp? Have your say in the comments section below.

Liverpool's front three are all aged 29 ( Image:

OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

"What I think the big concern is [that] everyone is going to be old at the same time, in three or four years. Look at the front three: Firmino, Salah and Mane - all late 20s.

"Another three or four years you're not going to replace one, it all of a sudden goes bump and you've got to replace two of them.

"I think that's the general around the team - the Matips, the Van Dijks - they're all late 20s now.

"You've got your Henderson and Milners, but that's fine, that's experienced but when there's a glut - that will happen - in four, five years that's something that Jurgen Klopp has to address next year."

Liverpool decided to consolidate their position in the summer transfer window, but player sales may put them in a good place in the coming windows.

Harry Wilson, Marko Grujic, Taiwo Awoniyi and Xherdan Shaqiri were all sold for sizable transfer fees, meaning funds could be available for further additions in 2022.

Top News

24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are once again expected to be without the services of Lamine Yamal for Tuesday's Champions League contest with Brest, as the 17-year-old continues to battle an ankle problem. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aberdeen, looking to bounce back from their first league defeat of the 2024-25 Scottish Premiership season, will travel to the Easter Road Stadium on Tuesday to take on basement dwellers Hibernian. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona will be aiming to record their fourth Champions League victory of the campaign when they welcome French outfit Brest to Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Tuesday night. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Malang Sarr's time at Chelsea was largely forgettable. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Kyle Walker has been offered a harsh reminder his career at the top level may be over after a tough game against former employers Tottenham. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk On the back of contrasting results on the fourth matchday of the 2024-25 Champions League, Bayer Leverkusen and Red Bull Salzburg cross paths on Tuesday evening in their latest European affair. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Wayne Rooney admits he'd like to partake in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, but an appearance isn't imminent. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich remain without the services of Joao Palhinha for Tuesday's Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain, which could mean a start in central midfield for Leon Goretzka. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Paris Saint-Germain will welcome Marquinhos back into their side for Tuesday's Champions League clash with Bayern Munich. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Jamie O'Hara had plenty to say after Tottenham Hotspur's rampant 4-0 win at Manchester City. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Former Chelsea defender Malang Sarr has admitted that he was affected by comments made by Mauricio Pochettino during his time at Stamford Bridge. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United are reportedly contemplating whether to enter the race for PSV Eindhoven winger Johan Bakayoko. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Allianz Arena will play host to a blockbuster contest in the Champions League on Tuesday night, with Bayern Munich welcoming Paris Saint-Germain, and both sides will be under pressure to pick up a positive result. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams competing for a spot in the Championship playoff places will meet on Tuesday evening, as Watford host Bristol City at Vicarage Road for matchday 17 of the 2024-25 season. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brighton & Hove Albion have reportedly reached a decision over the asking price of Evan Ferguson. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Avoiding a catastrophic sixth defeat in a row will be the aim for Manchester City when Feyenoord touch down at the Etihad for Tuesday's Champions League league phase showdown. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly reached a decision over how to handle the future of Jorginho in the January transfer window. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Hull City will be bidding to avoid a fourth straight defeat in the Championship when they continue their 2024-25 campaign with a home fixture against Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday night. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sparta Prague and Atletico Madrid will lock horns for the first time in their respective histories on Tuesday night, and both sides will be under pressure to pick up a positive result due to their issues in the Champions League this season. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Having made very different starts to their Champions League campaigns, Inter Milan and RB Leipzig will convene at San Siro on Tuesday evening. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk There will be a blockbuster contest in the Champions League at Allianz Arena on Tuesday night, as German giants Bayern Munich welcome French champions Paris Saint-Germain. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Jose Mourinho emphatically dismissed the Cristiano Ronaldo transfer links to Fenerbahce. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola can be expected to make sweeping changes for Tuesday's Champions League league phase encounter with Feyenoord at the Etihad Stadium. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk In full-blown crisis mode after their fifth straight defeat across all competitions, meek Manchester City seek a shot at retribution in Tuesday's Champions League league phase match at home to Feyenoord. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona will be aiming to return to winning ways when they take on French outfit Brest in the Champions League on Tuesday night. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A Champions League classic could be in store on Tuesday evening, when Sporting Lisbon host Arsenal at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in each side's fifth league phase match of the campaign. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta is likely to tinker with his starting XI for Tuesday's Champions League battle with Sporting Lisbon in Portugal. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Hakim Ziyech had his head in his hands as he missed an open goal from eight yards out on Saturday night. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Having hinted at a winter revival with a morale-boosting Premier League success, Arsenal resume Champions League duties away to Portuguese titans Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday evening. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking a third straight Champions League win, Italian giants AC Milan will meet struggling Slovan Bratislava at Stadion Tehelne Pole on Tuesday evening.