I’m going to be honest. I’m starting to worry that Liverpool haven’t done enough in the transfer market this summer.
We spent a huge amount of money strengthening the squad, brought in exciting attacking talent and gave Andoni Iraola plenty to work with. But with Manchester City coming to Anfield on Sunday, two injuries have suddenly left Liverpool looking worryingly short of options up front.
Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo are both ruled out.
Hugo Ekitike is also unavailable, leaving Iraola with a serious selection problem before one of Liverpool’s biggest games of the season. The manager confirmed on Friday that Isak and Gakpo would miss the City match, although neither injury was expected to be long-term.
And that leaves me asking a pretty straightforward question.
Did Liverpool do enough to prepare for exactly this sort of situation?
We spent big, so why are we short of options?
This is what frustrates me.
Liverpool invested heavily in the attack during the summer, but spending money and building a squad capable of coping with injuries are two different things.
You can have talented players everywhere, but if several of your main attacking options are unavailable at the same time, you suddenly discover how much depth you really have.
That is precisely where Liverpool find themselves.
Isak has a thigh injury after withdrawing from international duty with Sweden. Gakpo has an ankle problem after playing for the Netherlands, while Ekitike is also missing.
Those are three significant absences in the same area of the pitch.
I’m not blaming the recruitment team for players getting injured. Nobody can plan for every possible combination of injuries.
But surely one of the responsibilities of squad planning is to make sure the team doesn’t become so dependent on a handful of players that two or three absences create a crisis?
At the moment, that is exactly what seems to be happening.
Iraola is already having to think outside the box
The manager has admitted that Lewis Koumas is probably the only recognised No.9 currently available to him, although he has other options who can play in attacking positions.
Federico Chiesa has returned to training, but he has been recovering from an injury and has not had much recent playing time. Bradley Barcola, Rio Ngumoha and Victor Muñoz offer further possibilities across the front line.
That is hardly ideal preparation for Manchester City.
Koumas deserves credit for the minutes he has earned, particularly after his busy international break with Wales. He has shown promise and could now receive a huge opportunity.
But there is a difference between giving a young player minutes in a cup match and potentially asking him to lead the line against City in the Premier League.
I would love Koumas to take his chance if he starts. Imagine how good it would be if he delivered a performance that made everybody sit up and take notice.
But Liverpool shouldn’t have to rely on a youngster stepping up simply because the senior options have disappeared.
That is the concern.
The summer signings need to make a difference now
This is where I want to see the likes of Barcola and Muñoz step forward.
Barcola was brought in to give Liverpool pace, direct running and another threat across the front three. Iraola has already described him as a hugely valuable player who can operate in all three attacking positions.
Now could be the moment when that versatility really matters.
Liverpool need players who can adapt without the entire attacking structure falling apart. If Barcola can offer a genuine threat, if Muñoz can provide energy and creativity, and if Chiesa is fit enough to contribute, then perhaps the situation won’t look quite so bleak.
But that is a lot of responsibility to put on players who are still finding their feet in the team.
And against Manchester City, there won’t be much room for a slow start.
This is why squad depth matters
I keep coming back to the same point.
Liverpool aren’t just dealing with one injury. They have lost several players who would normally be involved in the attacking positions, and the timing couldn’t be much worse.
City are arriving at Anfield with a formidable team, and Liverpool need to be able to threaten them rather than simply trying to survive the afternoon.
The absence of Isak is particularly frustrating because Liverpool need his movement and finishing. Gakpo’s versatility is also valuable, especially when the manager is trying to find the right balance across the front line.
Neither is expected to be missing for an extended period, which is encouraging. But that doesn’t help Iraola on Sunday.
And the schedule won’t get any easier. Liverpool have a Champions League game and another league fixture against Brentford coming up, with very little time between matches.
That is when a deep squad should prove its worth.
Instead, Liverpool are already having to find solutions with limited preparation time.
I’m not writing Liverpool off against City
Let’s get one thing straight: Liverpool can still win this game.
Anfield can make a difference, and football doesn’t always follow the script. Barcola could have a brilliant afternoon. Koumas could seize his opportunity. Wirtz, Szoboszlai or another midfielder could provide the decisive contribution.
Iraola also deserves credit for trying to find solutions rather than making excuses.
But I don’t think we should ignore the warning signs simply because we want to remain optimistic.
The injuries are bad luck. The lack of available alternatives is the bigger question.
Liverpool have spent a fortune, and supporters are entitled to expect that investment to leave the squad better equipped to cope when things go wrong.
If two injuries and another unavailable striker leave the manager scrambling to find a centre-forward, something clearly needs examining.
I hope the players who come in prove me wrong. I hope Liverpool find a way to beat City, and I hope Isak and Gakpo return quickly.
But this weekend has highlighted a concern that won’t disappear just because the injured players recover.
Liverpool need enough reliable attacking options to cope when the inevitable happens.
We cannot expect the same few players to carry the attack all season.
And if this summer’s recruitment was supposed to give Iraola the depth he needs, then Sunday’s selection headache is an uncomfortable early test of whether Liverpool really achieved that.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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