Graeme Souness believes Liverpool have identified two “stars” in Alexis MacAllister and Dominik Szoboszlai, but he is skeptical that Wataru Endo will play a significant role this season.
The Reds reacted quickly in the transfer market to sign Mac Allister and Szoboszlai, and both players have already proven their worth in the early stages of the current season.
Their arrivals were followed by a transaction involving Japan international Wataru Endo, who is still something of an unknown quantity, before Ryan Gravenberch was acquired on deadline day.
Liverpool may have missed out on their key target in this position, Jude Bellingham, but recent triumphs over Newcastle United and Aston Villa have left supporters hopeful that their midfield rebuild will be a success.
Souness commented on Jurgen Klopp’s summer business, saying, “I like Szoboszlai and I am a big fan of Mac Allister.” We’ll have to wait and see with Endo. Getting positive feedback in the Bundesliga does not guarantee success in the Premier League, which is more demanding and intense than anywhere else. Let’s see how he handles it.
“The fact that they offered more than £100 million for Caicedo shows that he [Klopp] sees that area as needing strengthening.” The way I see Liverpool right now, they have enough goals in the team, the defense is more than adequate, and the keeper is more than adequate, but the midfield blend he will have to utilize is not quite perfect. I’d want to see them sign another central defender to replace Matip, as well as another central midfielder. Endo, for the money they paid, would indicate he is a squad player.”
Fans had been clamoring for midfield reinforcements for quite some time, having failed to address the issue during the summer of 2022 and subsequently paying the consequences during what was a disastrous season for the Reds. Souness, who is pleased to see the club finally move, told the Mirror: “The time to strengthen is when you’re at the top and you’re bringing in players who don’t have to make an immediate impact.” I wrote a piece last summer claiming that Liverpool needed to strengthen in midfield, but they didn’t. They went and grabbed Arthur Melo a few weeks later, and he never played for Liverpool.
“Looking at the age, it wasn’t rocket science [that it was going to end badly].” They were at an age when you should have been paying great attention. They’ve done that now, and I believe Mac Allister and Szoboszlai will be stars for Liverpool, but I’d still like them to have a top-class holding midfielder.”
