He has to be signed at all costs, he's the only one who can save Liverpool | OneFootball

This is the only player who Liverpool simply have to sign.

Speed. Speed. And more speed.

That’s basically been the message from Arne Slot and plenty of journalists around Liverpool when talking about what the team is missing up front.

A season with a slowing Mohamed Salah and a Cody Gakpo who hasn’t quite looked as sharp has made Liverpool’s attack feel easier to read and a bit easier to handle for opponents.

In modern football, defending starts from the front. It’s the forwards and wingers who set the tone by pressing, forcing mistakes, and helping the team stay compact when possession is lost. Ideally, you want attackers who are quick, aggressive, and able to get back into shape immediately when things break down.

That just hasn’t been consistent enough at Liverpool.

Going forward, there have also been real concerns about how predictable the attack has become. Even last season, some felt Slot’s tactical approach was starting to be worked out by opposition teams.

Liverpool did try to help fix that in the summer by bringing in more attacking quality to deal with the low blocks they keep coming up against. But the feeling is that the system still needs the right kind of profiles to really click.

What Slot really needs is pace in behind, runners who can stretch defences and create chaos, plus players who can also link things together and feed chances for someone like Alexander Isak.

One way to fix that is by signing wingers.

It's why Liverpool are heading into a pretty important rebuild in the wide areas.

With Salah confirming he’ll leave at the end of the season, Liverpool are losing their most dependable attacking threat - a player who has consistently delivered goals, assists, and big moments for years.

That alone would be a major issue, but it’s made worse by the fact that Luis Diaz was sold last summer and never really replaced properly.

Liverpool's struggles and lack of speed this season stems from not replacing Diaz.

It’s left the attack looking a bit one-dimensional at times - lacking balance, unpredictability, and a consistent threat from both sides of the pitch.

Opposition teams have also found it easier to deal with Liverpool, knowing there aren’t as many players who can consistently stretch the game or beat defenders one-on-one.

Because of that, signing just one winger probably won’t be enough. Liverpool likely need at least two quality additions out wide — players with pace, creativity, and end product.

If the club want to stay competitive at the top level, sorting out both flanks has to be a priority.