Liverpool made headlines in January 2023 by securing Cody Gakpo ahead of Manchester United, but they chose to pass on another Dutch talent: Matthijs de Ligt.
Early in the summer, Liverpool had engaged in preliminary discussions about potentially signing the Bayern Munich defender.
However, their interest waned when internal discord between de Ligt and Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk became apparent.
According to Football Insider, the rift between de Ligt and van Dijk at Euro 2024—where van Dijk was accused of influencing the decision to exclude de Ligt in favour of Stefan de Vrij—prompted Liverpool to reconsider their pursuit.
This discord led the club to halt their interest, allowing Manchester United to swoop in and sign de Ligt for €50 million (£42.3 million) in August.
De Ligt’s move followed that of Leny Yoro, another central defender who joined Manchester instead of Liverpool.
Chemistry concerns and defensive partnerships
De Ligt and van Dijk were paired together in the Netherlands’ recent fixture against Germany, but their performance raised concerns.
Virgil van Dijk (L) and Matthijs de Ligt (R). Credit: Imago Images
De Ligt was substituted at halftime after a series of mistakes, which even drew criticism from van Dijk. While a single game is not enough to determine the long-term compatibility of a defensive partnership, the first-half display suggested that integrating de Ligt and van Dijk as a stable pairing might be challenging.
Liverpool’s centre-back dilemma
Liverpool’s centre-back situation remains unsettled following the departure of Joel Matip, whose contract expired in June.
Despite the need for reinforcement in this position, Liverpool did not secure a replacement during the transfer window.
The club will have to wait until January or the next summer window to address this gap, potentially affecting their defensive solidity.
As Liverpool continues their campaign, the focus will be on maintaining their strong form and navigating the challenges of the season with the current defensive lineup.
The eventual decision on adding a new centre-back will be crucial for bolstering their squad and ensuring stability in the backline.
