Liverpool may have spent big and reshaped their squad this summer, but Reds legend John Aldridge has warned that the team is still short of what’s needed to defend their Premier League crown.
Ahead of the season opener against Bournemouth, the former Liverpool striker has voiced concerns following the club’s Community Shield penalty shootout defeat to Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon.
The assessment comes after a summer that saw Arne Slot usher in a new era at Anfield. A wave of high-profile arrivals, including creative midfielder Florian Wirtz and exciting forward Hugo Ekitike, has fuelled excitement, but Aldridge believes the Community Shield defeat exposed deeper issues that money alone can’t fix.
Writing in his weekly column, Aldridge summed up his thoughts on Liverpool’s current situation in just two words — “not ready”.
“Liverpool are not ready. You could see that against Crystal Palace on Sunday in the Community Shield.
We started very well but the longer the game went on, the fact Palace appeared sharper and fitter started to show.”
Liverpool’s summer schedule brought a mixed bag of results. There were moments of attacking brilliance, often sparked by Wirtz’s creative touch or Ekitike’s sharp movement, and the emergence of youngsters shining, but also lapses in defensive organisation that allowed opponents to grow into games and concede goals easily.
For Aldridge, it’s not simply about missing out on the first trophy of the campaign.
“Ignore those who say the Community Shield is merely a glorified friendly. It matters – it’s a game at Wembley with a trophy to be won.”
Part of Liverpool’s challenge lies in who they’ve let go. Senior players with title-winning experience such as Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Jarell Quansah have all moved on this summer, leaving gaps in key areas of the pitch.
While the club has reinvested heavily in attacking and midfield talent, the backline has been largely left as it was despite signs that reinforcements are needed.
With Ryan Gravenberch suspended for Friday’s opener against Bournemouth, Arne Slot side could once again find themselves stretched in the middle of the park and vulnerable at the back.
“They just didn’t get a grip with the Palace midfield throughout, and that put a lot more pressure on the centre-backs than would usually be the case.
There have to be some concerns going into the opening Premier League game against Bournemouth at Anfield on Friday.”
The champions’ transfer business has been bold, and their attacking options are arguably stronger than ever, but the lack of defensive reinforcements and the lessons learnt from pre-season suggest that Aldridge’s warning is more than just an ex-player’s pessimism — it’s a reality check.
