Published: October 7, 2021 5:28 pm
Last Updated: October 7, 2021 5:40 pm
Word stemming from the Spanish media over the last 24 hours suggests that Liverpool have joined a growing list of clubs in the hunt for Real Madrid star Marco Asensio.
Salah and co. carrying the load
The subject of depth, or rather lack thereof, in Jurgen Klopp’s Reds frontline has of course proven a hot topic of discussion over the early weeks of the new campaign.
Whilst Liverpool have kicked their efforts on both the domestic and European fronts off in impressive fashion, the Merseyside outfit have also, understandably, continued to rely heavily on the attacking quartet of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino.
This comes with the attacking ranks at Anfield containing very little quality depth.
After Xherdan Shaqiri moved on during the summer, Klopp was left with the likes of Divock Origi, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Harvey Elliott to act as backup to his star-studded front-four, with the former continuing to struggle for form, and the latter pair seemingly more comfortable in a deeper role.
Liverpool’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (centre) celebrates scoring his side’s first goal of the game with team-mates KRC Genk v Liverpool – UEFA Champions League – Group E – Luminus Arena 23-10-2019 . (Photo by Mike Egerton/EMPICS/PA Images via Getty Images)
Making the situation all the more concerning is the fact that, following the turn of the year, both Salah and Mane will depart for the African Cup of Nations.
As such, it goes without saying that Liverpool could do with securing reinforcements in the attacking third in the immediate future.
Asensio eyed
And, as outlined above, if the latest word stemming from the continent is anything to go by, then it appears that those in a position of power on Merseyside have set their sights on exactly that.
As per a report from Spanish outlet ABC, the Reds are ‘weighing up’ a move for Real Madrid star Marco Asensio.
Versatile attacker Asensio is understood to be eyeing a move away from the Bernabeu, having been afforded starts in just two of Los Blancos’ eight La Liga outings to this point in the campaign.
ELCHE, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 11: Marco Asensio of Spain celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Nations League A Group four match between Spain and Croatia at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero on September 11, 2018 in Elche, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
Real, in turn, have sanctioned an exit, be it in January or next summer, keen to secure some form of return for their talented but inconsistent Spanish international ahead of the expiration of his contract in 2023.
Liverpool, after expressing a previous interest in his signature, have therefore returned to the fray for Asensio.
The Reds, though, will face stiff competition if they have genuine hope of pushing a deal over the line, with AC Milan and, even more so, Juventus keen on the addition of the 25-year-old.
Former Liverpool man Xherdan Shaqiri reveals that “the club wouldn’t let me go”
Martin Odegaard pinpoints the difference between Arsenal and Real Madrid’s dressing room cultures
Liverpool betting odds, next game:
Watford vs Liverpool odds: result, both teams to score, correct score & goalscorers
Liverpool’s latest videos
Inside Anfield: Liverpool 2-2 Man City | Capture the atmosphere of the Reds’ thrilling draw
Go behind the scenes from Liverpool’s Premier League tie with Man City where goals…
2021-10-05T06:30:10Z
Every angle of Mo Salah’s stunning solo goal against Manchester City
Watch every possible perspective of the individual effort scored by Mo Salah against Manchester…
2021-10-04T06:00:08Z
Premier League table
| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Chelsea FC | 7 | 12 | 16 |
| 2 | Liverpool FC | 7 | 11 | 15 |
| 3 | Manchester City | 7 | 11 | 14 |
| 4 | Manchester United | 7 | 8 | 14 |
| 5 | Everton FC | 7 | 5 | 14 |
| 6 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 7 | 3 | 14 |
| 7 | Brentford FC | 7 | 4 | 12 |
| 8 | Tottenham Hotspur | 7 | -4 | 12 |
| 9 | West Ham United | 7 | 4 | 11 |
| 10 | Aston Villa | 7 | 1 | 10 |
| 11 | Arsenal FC | 7 | -5 | 10 |
| 12 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 7 | -1 | 9 |
| 13 | Leicester City | 7 | -3 | 8 |
| 14 | Crystal Palace | 7 | -3 | 7 |
| 15 | Watford FC | 7 | -3 | 7 |
| 16 | Leeds United | 7 | -7 | 6 |
| 17 | Southampton FC | 7 | -5 | 4 |
| 18 | Burnley FC | 7 | -6 | 3 |
| 19 | Newcastle United | 7 | -8 | 3 |
| 20 | Norwich City | 7 | -14 | 1 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 6 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 6 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 5 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 4 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 4 |
| Maupay, Neal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 4 |
| Sarr, Ismaila | Watford FC | 4 |
| Townsend, Andros | Everton FC | 3 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 3 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur | 3 |
| Gray, Demarai | Everton FC | 3 |
| Ronaldo, Cristiano | Manchester United | 3 |
| Lukaku, Romelu | Chelsea FC | 3 |
| Calvert-Lewin, Dominic | Everton FC | 3 |
| Jota, Diogo | Liverpool FC | 3 |
| Hwang, Hee-chan | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 3 |
| Greenwood, Mason | Manchester United | 3 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 2 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 2 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 0 | 4 |
| Skipp, Oliver | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | 4 |
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 0 | 3 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 0 | 3 |
| Rice, Declan | West Ham United | 0 | 3 |
| Cooper, Liam | Leeds United | 0 | 3 |
| Norgaard, Christian | Brentford FC | 0 | 3 |
| Tarkowski, James | Burnley FC | 0 | 3 |
| Veltman, Joel | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | 3 |
| Brownhill, Josh | Burnley FC | 0 | 3 |
| Etebo, Oghenekaro | Watford FC | 0 | 3 |
| Djenepo, Moussa | Southampton FC | 0 | 3 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 0 | 1 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 0 | 2 |
| Maupay, Neal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | 2 |
| Jimenez, Raul | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0 | 2 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 0 | 2 |
| Gallagher, Conor | Crystal Palace | 0 | 2 |
| Alonso, Marcos | Chelsea FC | 0 | 2 |
| Ward Prowse, James | Southampton FC | 1 | 1 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 7 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 4 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 4 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 3 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 3 |
| Saint-Maximin, Allan | Newcastle United | 3 |
| Kovacic, Mateo | Chelsea FC | 3 |
| Townsend, Andros | Everton FC | 2 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 2 |
| Ings, Danny | Aston Villa | 2 |
| Toney, Ivan | Brentford FC | 2 |
| Jimenez, Raul | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2 |
| Bamford, Patrick | Leeds United | 2 |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 2 |
| Azpilicueta, Cesar | Chelsea FC | 2 |
| Gross, Pascal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2 |
| King, Joshua | Watford FC | 2 |
| Pereira, Ricardo | Leicester City | 2 |
| Alexander-Arnold, Trent | Liverpool FC | 2 |
| Rice, Declan | West Ham United | 2 |
