Liverpool face up to double transfer regret as Alexis Mac Allister worries grow

Mark Jones with the big Liverpool talking points after the 2-1 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge made it three losses in the space of a week

Liverpool's summer 2023 transfer window is one that has passed into club folklore. And no-one should underestimate the impact that those midfield arrivals have had on the Reds.

Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch would all become key players in the title winning season, while Wataru Endo has had his moments in red too. All were excellent signings in what proved to be Jurgen Klopp's swansong summer. But the failed move for Moises Caicedo is surely still one that Liverpool lament.

You could argue that Gravenberch wouldn't have become the player he is today if Caicedo was in a red shirt right now and not a blue one, but sometimes it is better to sign players simply to stop someone else from getting them, and the Ecuadorian has become so, so vital for Chelsea.

OPINION

OPINION

He dominated midfield in the first half here at Stamford Bridge, and the ease with which he escaped the attentions of his former Brighton team-mate Mac Allister before lashing in the opening goal again showed a brittleness in an area where Liverpool were so strong last season, largely down to those 2023 buys.

Mac Allister, in particular, looks way off it at the moment, and he was unable to get close to a player who is become one of the Premier League's very best in his position.

Collecting passes and controlling play, Caicedo's influence allowed the surprise midfield starter Malo Gusto to run all over the centre of the Liverpool side, and that caused the visitors issues they couldn't deal with.

In Gravenberch the Reds have a complete midfielder, and one who has begun to add goals to his game this season, and in Caicedo Chelsea have a similar star. There was a clear winner here.

Another defender down

When Ibrahima Konate was taken off 10 minutes into the second half there was a grimace on his face which told the whole story. And sure enough when Joe Gomez leaned over to enquire about his team-mate's health he was met with a solemn shake of the head.

It was interesting that Konate's withdrawal didn't lead to Gomez coming on, with Arne Slot instead opting to move Gravenberch deep in order to try and progress the ball quickly from the back.

With the addition of Curtis Jones in midfield that worked pretty well. Jones helped turn the tide and Liverpool established a control in the game that would lead to Cody Gakpo's goal two good Mohamed Salah chances he should have done better with.

But despite that success, it is difficult to imagine the Reds beginning a game with Gravenberch stationed alongside Virgil van Dijk, with Konate's injury - a blow later confirmed by Slot - again shining a light on the lack of centre-back options available.

The dual blow of the Marc Guehi transfer miss and Giovanni Leoni's unfortunate season-ending injury has only been exacerbated by Konate's poor form of late, and there are a sheer lack of numbers in that area now that only add to the growing concerns around the champions.

Mamardashvili impresses on Premier League debut

If you are looking for a bright spot for Liverpool then one was provided by Giorgi Mamardashvili. The Georgian goalkeeper was thrust in for his first taste of Premier League football at Stamford Bridge and he delivered impressively.

There were a couple of early missteps, notably when he passed the ball out of play, but Liverpool were indebted to a goalkeeper that they'll need to trust over the next month if initial reports of the extent of Alisson's injury are to be believed.

This is a player who has arrived at Liverpool seeking a first-team spot, Alisson Becker will be aware of that, and while Mamardashvili will surely defer to the Brazilian when the No.1 is fit again, he looks to have all the tools available to be a dependable presence in the side in the coming weeks.

Liverpool's rally in the second half could and perhaps should have produced a second goal, and with the cruel late blow of conceding was harsh on the Reds as a whole, it was harsh on their keeper in particular.

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