Dortmund highlight one problem Liverpool failed to address this summer
Having come onto the pitch against FC Cologne on Sunday with his side already 4-0 up, it’s no surprise that Christian Pulisic had little impact on Borussia Dortmund’s result this weekend.
The American teenager has been one of the revelations of European football in the last few seasons, having burst onto the scene and played a starring role for one of the most exciting young sides on the continent, even if his stats at the weekend were nothing to write home about: in 25 minutes of football he had just 14 touches of the ball, failing to even attempt any dribbles.
But that shouldn’t be taken as criticism – not in a game which was already wrapped up long before he was even told to warm up. Instead, this season, the American’s continued form should still be considered a kick in the teeth to a Liverpool side who have shown interest in the winger over the last few years, and who struggled to score against Burnley this weekend, succumbing to a 1-1 draw.
The Reds launched an £11million bid in summer 2016 and Pulisic even discussed reports of their interest in him during the last transfer window, with German publication Bild.
There seems to be something of an imbalance present on Merseyside. At Anfield on Saturday, Mohamed Salah showed why he was bought by Jurgen Klopp this summer, but also why the Reds could be doing with another player in the pacey winger mould. Last season, they struggled most in the absence of Sadio Mane, and the signing of Salah was obviously an attempt to redress the balance of the side by adding a similar player to the other side of the attack. But it was also a ploy to allow the team to continue to function without Mane.
This weekend, we saw that in action: the Senegalese star’s red card in the 5-0 defeat to Manchester City last weekend meant he was out of action for the Anfield game. And Salah did step up to the mark, scoring the equalising goal, taking six shots, and completing 100% of his dribbles. It’s clear that, despite the fact that Liverpool will be disappointed not to have won the game, Salah has helped a side who seemed so lost without Mane last season.
Even so, it’s hard to look past the fact that Liverpool – and this probably applies all over the pitch – lack a certain depth. With Mane out of the team, Liverpool may well have lost this game last season. But without the same creative threat on both sides, perhaps that’s also why they didn’t win. It’s because of this that Liverpool’s desire to get a player like Pulisic in their team shouldn’t be extinguished.
Highlighting the Dortmund player this weekend may seem strange and slightly out of place, but it’s got nothing to do with any thoughts that he had a good weekend or was crucial to his team’s victory. Rather it was the mere fact that he was given a rest after the midweek defeat to Tottenham at Wembley that stood out. Here is a player who, at just 19 years of age, is already of such importance to his team that his side have to think about keeping him fresh for the biggest games.
It’s clear that Liverpool are still a work in progress under Jurgen Klopp. And whilst the front three of Mane, Salah and Roberto Firmino will probably bear fruit in the long term, whenever one of the wingers are missing, replacing him with a player like Philippe Coutinho, who is more comfortable with players ahead of him, changes the dynamic up front.
Liverpool need more depth. Failing to sign a centre back is one area of concern, but only managing to bring in one pacey attacking player this summer, excluding youngster Dominic Solanke, is perhaps another. Yes there are players like Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho who can come into the side in similar roles, and maybe even Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is an option if needs must, though the England international didn’t sign on deadline day to play as a winger.
But you get the feeling that resting important players after a big European game, just like his former side Dortmund did this weekend, isn’t really an option for Jurgen Klopp. You wonder if that will be an issue for the club as the season wears on.