Daniel Sturridge issues Liverpool transfer plea after what he saw against Newcastle today | OneFootball

Daniel Sturridge has implored Liverpool to address one particular position in their squad in the final few days of the summer transfer window.

The Reds’ Premier League season has gotten off to an unconvincing start, with the 2024/25 champions requiring a 99th-minute Dominik Szoboszlai penalty to escape with a share of the spoils away to Newcastle on Sunday afternoon.

The manner of the home side’s two goals had Jamie Carragher bemoaning the ‘madness’ of not addressing the gaping issues in midfield which had plagued LFC last term, with Andoni Iraola’s side being just as easy to play through as Arne Slot’s team had been.

Sturridge begging Liverpool to sign a defensive midfielder

Speaking on Sky Sports after the match at St James’ Park, Sturridge called for his former club to invest in a top-quality defensive midfielder before the transfer window shuts on Tuesday week.

The ex-Liverpool striker said: “I think the team needs a defensive midfielder, personally. We’ve been talking about a defensive midfielder at Liverpool for the last three years.

“Gravenberch coming into the team, playing consistently and Liverpool winning the Premier League sort of changed that philosophy, but if you actually analyse the midfield, they’re all naturally more attacking players.”

After singing the praises of new Brentford signing Mamadou Sangare on his excellent display against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, Sturridge added: “Liverpool don’t have that profile of player right now. I really like Trey Nyoni as a player. He’s brilliant, but he’s more of a ball-playing [number] 6 or [number] 8.

“He’s not a destroyer. He’s not someone who’s gonna strike fear into the opposition like Sangare can, or like N’Golo Kante over the years.”

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Precious little time for Liverpool to address that void in the team

You’d be hard pressed to find a Liverpool fan who’d disagree with Sturridge’s assessment of the squad, especially after the match today.

Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister excelled as a double pivot in the title-winning season under Slot, but in truth neither would fit the description of a pure number 6 in terms of breaking up the play, winning the ball back and initiating attacks for their team.

One man who would fit that bill is Adam Wharton, but the chances of Richard Hughes being able to persuade Crystal Palace to sell their standout midfielder to us at this tage of the transfer window seem fanciful at best.

Nyoni might become that midfield anchor in years to come, but entrusting him with such a massive responsibility at just 19 would be asking an awful lot of him, and he shouldn’t have to carry the can for the failings of those in the boardroom over the past few transfer windows.

Liverpool have precious little time to address that void in the team before the market shuts for the autumn. We just hope that the hierarchy might have a surprise up their sleeve in the coming days in terms of defensive midfield reinforcements.