Barnes urges Liverpool to make an ambitious triple move for Eze, Olise and Guehi

Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp era is coming to a close after joining the club in 2015 and winning everything that there is to win. A key part of that was the goal scoring antics of Egyptian forward Mohammed Salah who has been linked with a move away from Anfield for the best part of two seasons. Will he remain at the club post Klopp? Will Liverpool seek to bring in a younger replacement? Are Liverpool’s current options good enough to take on the goal scoring responsibility that Salah has held for several seasons? We caught up with John Barnes to discuss the future of Liverpool going forward.

In this article: 

• Barnes shares his belief in Liverpool’s attackers post Salah 
• Barnes leaps to the defence of Gakpo and Nunez
• Liverpool’s need for defensive reinforcements 
• Barnes urges Liverpool to make an ambitious triple move for Eze, Olise and Guehi

Barnes shares his belief in Liverpool’s attackers post-Salah 

Not many Liverpool fans could fathom losing Jurgen Klopp but his time as Liverpool manager is drawing to a close. But, just for a second, imagine losing Klopp and Mohamed Salah in the same summer. Salah was heavily linked with a move to Saudi Arabia last summer, which saw Liverpool receive a huge £150 million offer from Al-Ittihad. With Salah entering the final 12 months of his contract, the club have a huge decision to make on his future. Barnes is wary that Salah is coming towards the end of his time at the club but also remains confident that they are well equipped to cope with the Egyptians exit. 

“Next season Liverpool are going to have a new manager and a new team. He may want a new challenge.” 

“With Mo, who knows. It’s possible he could leave.” 

“If you look at Liverpool right now and the players that we actually have from an attacking and youth point of view, we are well prepared for anything.” 

“Mo is now 31 turning 32 so he may feel as though it’s time for something new and of course we’ll miss him but with the talent we have now with Nunez, Elliott, Gakpo, Diaz we are set to cope if he does go.”

Barnes leaps to the defence of Gakpo and Nunez

Former Reds left-back Jose Enrique has said that Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo aren’t good enough for Liverpool. Both attackers were brought in to slowly help Liverpool’s transition from the Mane, Salah and Firmino era but have had a rocky time at Anfield, filled with some highs and lows. Barnes feels as though Enrique is being unfair on the young attackers, especially considering Liverpool’s current standing in the league table. 

“I don’t think Jose Enrique is being fair when discussing Darwin (Nunez) and Cody (Gakpo).”

“When you look at what they’ve done since being at the club they’ve helped to take Liverpool  to being level on points with Arsenal at the top of the league and have already won a trophy this season.” 

“They’re both young so they will improve and develop. When you consider the upheaval at Liverpool with Klopp set to leave and the terms of transitioning from Mane, Salah and Firmino were still joint top of the league.” 

Barnes also makes a bold claim that both Gakpo and Nunez are capable of being as good as Mane, Salah and Firmino given the time and patience that young footballers need when developing. 

“The likes of Gakpo, Nunez and Diaz aren’t going to be as consistent as a mane, Salah and Bobby Firmino who were 28, 29, 30 years of age, at the peak of their careers and showed the expected consistency.”

“They have the potential to be equally as good as those guys because they’ve helped to keep Liverpool in a tightly contested title race.” 

Liverpool’s need for defensive reinforcements 

As Liverpool’s season winds down, the club faces a pivotal phase of transition. With Jurgen Klopp’s departure on the horizon, the focus on future strategies intensifies. Interestingly, John Barnes holds a differing view from many, suggesting that Liverpool’s frontline requires minimal adjustment. Instead, Barnes advocates for bolstering the defensive lineup and the defensive midfield positions. 

“As much as Dominic Solanke has done well this season at Bournemouth I don’t think Liverpool need another attacking player.”

“We also seem well covered for man’s attacking midfielder perspective with Szoboszlai, Elliott and Curtis Jones.” 

“I think defensive midfield is somewhere Liverpool could strengthen. Bajcetic has been out this season and he will step up when he’s back but from that perspective, Liverpool could definitely look to strengthen.” 

“I also think in defence is somewhere Liverpool could improve. Virgil Van Dijk is incredible but he’s not getting any younger.” 

“Matip may go and Quansah is one of the future so Liverpool may need to look to strengthen defensively.”

Barnes urges Liverpool to make an ambitious triple move for Eze, Olise and Guehi

However, Barnes was quick to sing the praises of Palace’s dynamic duo, Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise, who dazzled in Palace’s 5-2 thrashing of West Ham over the weekend. Both players found the net and contributed an assist apiece, masterfully showing their creativity and ability with the ball at their feet. Eager to see similar flair at Anfield, Barnes is championing a bold move by Liverpool to snag not just Eze and Olise, but also their teammate, defender Marc Guehi.

“Marc Guehi is a very good player. Guehi is someone Liverpool should be looking at.”

“Even the palace attacking players like Eze and Olise are players Liverpool could be looking at also.”

“City are also said to be looking at Olise and Eze. Arsenal also. But if Mo were to go and Liverpool wanted to bring in someone to replace him Eze and Olise are players that I like. Those two alongside Guehi are ready to move up a level.”