Liverpool can sign £100m stars, but I want us finding the next generation of bargains before Brighton and Brentford do.

There was one thing from yesterday’s football that really got under my skin, and it wasn’t Jamie Carragher having another pop at Liverpool.

It was watching Chema Andrés.

We spoke about Chema during the summer. He was available for around €22m, Brighton went in and got the deal done without much competition, and already he looks completely at home in the Premier League. He has the size, the physicality, the technical ability and the age profile that makes you wonder how much he could eventually be worth.

This is what frustrates me about Liverpool’s recruitment more than anything else.

I have no problem with signing Florian Wirtz. I have no problem with Bradley Barcola. I can understand why Liverpool wanted Alexander Isak, although spending that amount on him after already paying serious money for Hugo Ekitike was excessive for me.

My issue has always been the business we didn’t do.

Chema Andrés feels like exhibit A.

Liverpool Have Stopped Finding Enough Bargains

There was a time when Liverpool were brilliant at identifying players before their value exploded.

Andy Robertson is the example everybody immediately thinks of, but the wider principle was what mattered. Liverpool found players with the characteristics required for Jürgen Klopp’s football, bought them at sensible prices and developed them into elite performers.

You cannot always buy the finished article.

Sometimes you need to look at a player available for €20m or €25m and ask what he could become with better players around him, elite coaching and two years of development.

Brighton understand that. Brentford understand it. Bournemouth understand it.

Look at Chema Andrés. Look at Mahamadou Sangaré at Brentford. These are players we discussed during the summer because Liverpool had obvious areas requiring attention. They weren’t impossible deals requiring £100m negotiations and months of drama.

They were opportunities.

Now, if Liverpool decide they like one of these players in 18 months, guess what happens? Brighton or Brentford will want £70m, £80m or perhaps even more.

That’s what drives me mad.

I don’t expect Liverpool to sign every talented youngster in Europe. Nobody gets every recruitment decision right. But when supporters can identify the profile we need and there are affordable players available who fit that profile, I want to know why Liverpool aren’t taking those opportunities.

Midfield Was An Obvious Problem All Summer

This becomes even more frustrating when you look at midfield.

All summer we kept hearing that another midfielder wasn’t particularly high on Liverpool’s agenda. The window closes and suddenly we’re talking about Lamine Camara. We’re hearing about Manu Koné. There are apparently midfield preferences and targets everywhere.

Where was all this in June, July and August?

I wanted another midfielder then and I still want one now.

If Liverpool make one meaningful signing in January, Camara would be my choice. I think we need somebody with that physicality, somebody capable of covering ground and helping protect a midfield that has looked far too easy to play through at times.

That doesn’t mean somebody has to leave.

Alexis Mac Allister has started this season brilliantly and I want Liverpool talking to him about a new contract. My concern last season was whether we were beginning to see a physical decline. I wondered if it might be similar to what happened with Fabinho, where suddenly the legs seemed to disappear.

Mac Allister has answered that emphatically so far.

He’s aggressive again, he’s setting standards and he looks like one of the players Andoni Iraola can build around.

Ryan Gravenberch hasn’t started well, but I’m not writing him off either. New manager, different demands, different midfield structure. Give him an opportunity to respond.

Liverpool should be allowed to have depth.

We’ve lost Curtis Jones. Wataru Endo could leave. Stefan Bajcetic has gone. Why does buying another midfielder automatically have to mean sacrificing somebody else?

Build a proper squad.

Carragher Is Focusing On The Wrong Problem

This is where I think Jamie Carragher’s “failed Galacticos” argument misses the point.

I don’t care whether Liverpool have three £100m footballers if those players eventually justify the investment. What concerns me is spending enormous amounts at the top end while leaving other areas unfinished.

Calling this a failed era already is ridiculous anyway.

Iraola has been Liverpool manager for a few weeks. Barcola has barely got through the door. We haven’t lost a Premier League game this season and we’re still trying to integrate new players into a completely different way of playing.

Give it time.

Last season was a failure. I’ve never disputed that. Arne Slot deserved his share of responsibility, the recruitment department deserved theirs and the players deserved theirs. I’m not interested in rewriting that now because people want to rehabilitate Slot’s reputation.

I’m interested in where Liverpool go next.

And that brings us back to recruitment.

If you want to criticise Liverpool’s transfer strategy, criticise them for leaving Iraola without the balanced squad he needs. Ask why we didn’t buy another midfielder. Ask why right back remains a conversation. Ask why Brighton can identify Chema Andrés for around €22m while Liverpool are apparently waiting until January to address an issue plenty of us could see months ago.

Those are the questions that interest me.

Bournemouth Is An Opportunity To Build Momentum

Today, though, transfers can wait.

We have Bournemouth away and I think Liverpool have an opportunity to go into the international break feeling considerably better about themselves.

Bournemouth are a good team and they’ve started the season well, but they played in Europe on Thursday. Liverpool played Tottenham on Tuesday. Those extra two days matter.

I’ve been on the other side of this conversation enough times. We’ve watched Liverpool struggle after Thursday night football and spoken about tired legs, preparation and recovery.

So there are no excuses today.

I want intensity from the first whistle. I want Liverpool trying to take advantage of Bournemouth before they can settle into the game.

I’d also play Barcola on the left. We’ve seen enough of him from the right for now. Put him where he’s most comfortable, let him attack the space and give him the opportunity to build some confidence.

I’m going with 3-1 Liverpool.

A win would leave us unbeaten heading into the international break and give Iraola valuable time to work through some of the problems we’ve seen during these opening weeks.

Then Liverpool need to start looking ahead.

January doesn’t need to involve another £100m footballer. Give me the right midfielder. Give me somebody who improves the balance of the squad.

And while we’re at it, start looking for the next Chema Andrés before Brighton, Brentford or Bournemouth get there first.

Because Liverpool used to be one of the smartest clubs in the market.

I want us to start looking like it again.

Much Love.