The truth about Liverpool squad depth after not signing new centre-back or defensive midfielder

Having predicted a transfer ‘crescendo’ in August when unveiling as Liverpool’s new sporting director back at the start of July, Richard Hughes was ultimately proven right as his first window at Anfield came to an end. From the 21 transfer deals the Scot oversaw, only three were completed before August.

Meanwhile, 13 took place after the Reds’ Premier League opener away at Ipswich Town, with nine of those deals being finalised during the final four days of the transfer window - including five loan exits on transfer deadline day.

Admittedly, a vocal section of the Liverpool fanbase are sharing their discontent on social media at the club’s incoming business, with Federico Chiesa the only new signing added to Arne Slot’s inherited squad this summer.

This was despite initial pursuits of Anthony Gordon, Leny Yoro and Martin Zubimendi, with the trio not ending up Anfield-bound for a variety of reasons. And while Chiesa’s arrival saw the Reds still strengthen their attack despite missing out on the Newcastle United forward, openings at centre-back and defensive midfield went unfilled. Only time will tell if Liverpool find themselves left short.

Yet their Premier League squad will likely be the same size as the one submitted last September, with the Reds boasting 22 players over the age of 21.

Such a total does include overage Under-21s player Tom Hill. While the 21-year-old has previously made his senior Liverpool debut, it came under then Under-23s manager Neil Critchley in an Academy line-up against Aston Villa in the League Cup quarter-finals back in December 2019.

While he could well find himself named in Slot’s squad, as Paul Glatzel was under Klopp at the start of last season, it would be unlikely to see him considered for Premier League action this season.

Remove Hill and Glatzel from each quota and the Reds are left with 21 senior players. Yet there will actually be greater depth in this season’s ranks following Vitezslav Jaros’ promotion to third-choice goalkeeper.

Last year the Czechia international was fourth-choice, leaving Klopp with 17 senior first team outfield players named within his ranks. Slot will boast 18 such players.

While Chiesa is the only new signing who will be added to such a squad this season, Liverpool’s ranks have technically been bolstered by the return of Tyler Morton following a successful loan at Hull City. Meanwhile, Ryan Gravenberch is now no longer classed as an Under-21s player and will need to be registered.

Slot might not be able to name a maximum 25-man squad, but he will not be left short. Harvey Elliott, Jarell Quansah and Conor Bradley all still qualify as Under-21s players despite being senior stars so don’t need to be registered, while the likes of Trey Nyoni, James McConnell and Jayden Danns will also be able to compliment his first team ranks.

Breaking down the Reds’ squad depth, they have three senior goalkeepers and eight senior defenders. This includes four centre-backs, with Joe Gomez able to add as second reserve in both full-back positions.

Traditionally, that would be perceived to be enough defensively, given the fact that Slot can name two different back fours. Of course, Liverpool are still stung by the centre-back injury crisis of 2020/21 that left them without any senior options, with their squad regularly being decimated by injury under Klopp’s watch.

Slot has confidence in his backroom team though, and made such a point clear when asked about Chiesa’s previous injury record ahead of the Reds’ trip to Manchester United.

“(He) hasn't played many game minutes yet but we have a very good performance staff, so we will build him up in the right way and then hopefully we can see his quality in the near future,” the Dutchman said.

“We have a lot of trust in our performance staff and the good thing is he is not the only winger we have: he is one out of four, where some others can play in that position as well. If he is not available at certain moments - not only with him, also the others - then there is still enough players for me to choose.”

Liverpool will perhaps be relying on such faith and confidence to be well-placed. However, it cannot be overlooked that they navigated pre-season without any injuries in contrast to previous years, while Curtis Jones is the only senior star to succumb to any issues that have ruled him out of action since the campaign started. There is reason to be cautiously optimistic that the Reds’ previous injury woes won’t sting as hard with a new medical team in place and tweaked playing style under the Dutchman.

Should the Reds suffer injuries defensively, they are admittedly lacking a next-in-line option to step up. James Norris is the only other full-back in Liverpool’s ranks to play competitively for the first team before, while 17-year-old Amara Nallo is likely to act as a fifth-choice centre-back.

If your glass is half-empty, the Reds are taking a gamble. But if half-full, you can’t bloat a squad on the assumption that injuries will follow. Liverpool will hope they have gotten the balance right.

In midfield, Slot boasts seven senior options, with Trent Alexander-Arnold capable of taking such a total to eight. Throw in Nyoni and McConnell, when back from injury, and that number stands at 10.

Harvey Elliott is the only one who does not boast experience in the deepest position, though don’t expect to see the aforementioned 17-year-old starting at number six in the Premier League or Champions League anytime soon.

The Reds might not have signed a recognised number six but with Slot favouring a double-pivot in contrast to Klopp, it is perhaps understandable why Liverpool are happy to proceed with their current options in the short-term - and retained Morton’s services to further bolster such a quota despite interest from Bayer Leverkusen.

Meanwhile, Elliott is well-complemented by players able to play at number 10 along with the likes of Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister.

In attack, Chiesa’s arrival means the Reds now boast a natural pacey alternative to Mohamed Salah on the right with Slot able to pick between six senior forwards. He can also call upon Elliott, Szoboszlai or Jones out wide if needed, with Danns another option at centre-forward when back from injury.

Klopp used 35 different players during his final season in charge at Liverpool, but such a total included 14 Academy graduates with eight of them being handed debuts. While it became clear during pre-season that Jarell Quansah would remain with the first-team, deduct the remaining seven debutants and it’s a 28-man quota to choose from.

Include Nyoni, McConnell and Danns and Slot’s own options stand at 27 players.

The Reds squad perhaps feels weaker given some of their summer departures, but that’s not really the case when you look at the group Liverpool’s new head coach actually inherited.

Joel Matip did not play after early-December because of an ACL injury, while Thiago Alcantara was limited to just one late substitute appearance because of his own long-term injury issues. Adrian failed to make an appearance at all, with the Reds still boasting three senior goalkeepers without him. That is a big loss of experience but minimal in terms of actual output on the pitch last season.

Fabio Carvalho and Sepp van den Berg impressed out on loan and could have added to Slot’s ranks on their returns but sought regular game-time elsewhere. Bobby Clark was a surprise permanent exit, but his fringe place in the squad has arguably been filled by the more experienced Morton, who is better-suited to a deeper role.

Stefan Bajcetic and Ben Doak made just one Premier League substitute appearance each last season in injury-plagued campaigns. And while Luke Chambers, Lewis Koumas, Owen Beck, Calum Scanlon and Kaide Gordon all made first team appearances last season, their senior contribution was also minimal.

Such players are better-placed gaining first team football out on loan, especially when Europa League minutes are no longer on offer to them at Anfield following Liverpool’s return to the Champions League.

Numerically, the only position where the Reds risk looking light is at centre-back this season. And even then, such caution is only a result of the aforementioned unprecedented 2020/21 injury crisis at the heart of defence.

A lot of recognisable names might have left Liverpool this summer, but a look at Slot’s would-be Premier League squad for the first half of the campaign, which will be submitted next month, and the Reds’ strength-in-depth is arguably stronger than you initially thought and certainly not any weaker than under Klopp last season.

Whether it is strong enough to challenge for the Premier League and Champions League remains to be seen. But having regularly spoken of the strength of the squad he inherited, Liverpool’s new head coach will feel confident that such faith in his ranks pays off.

Liverpool probable Premier League squad 2024/25

Goalkeepers: Alisson, Kelleher, Jaros.

Defenders: Gomez, Van Dijk, Konate, Tsimikas, Robertson, Alexander-Arnold.

Midfielders: Endo, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones, Gravenberch, Morton, Hill.

Forwards: Diaz, Nunez, Salah, Chiesa, Gakpo, Jota.

Select Under-21s: Elliott, Quansah, Bradley, McConnell, Nallo, Danns, Nyoni.