Liverpool’s need for a new defensive midfielder was laid bare during Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The same could also be said for the home side, who were easily bypassed in the centre of the pitch on more than one occasion. Both clubs have of course been eyeing up the same players to fix this issue, battling it out for Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia.
Jurgen Klopp’s side made a shock move for the former in the early hours of Friday, only to see Chelsea re-enter the race for the Ecuadorian and submit a £55million bid for Lavia. After going head-to-head off the pitch in recent days, there was also no winner on the pitch after a draw in the capital on Sunday afternoon.
There may have been nothing to separate the sides up until this point, though the latest transfer news suggests that is about to change.