James Pearce has said it ‘would be no surprise’ if two Liverpool players in particular were to leave the club before the end of the summer transfer window.
There were a couple of notable omissions from Andoni Iraola’s matchday squad for his first official game in charge against Newcastle on Sunday, with no place in the starting XI or even on the bench for Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa.
The two attackers have been touted for potential exits from Anfield for some time, and speculation will inevitably be fuelled by them having no part to play in the 2-2 draw at St James’ Park.
Pearce hints that Elliott and Chiesa could leave Liverpool
In an article for The Athletic reflecting upon yesterday’s match, Pearce hinted that the Liverpool duo could viably depart the club before next Tuesday’s transfer deadline after they were overlooked by Iraola for the trip to Tyneside.
He wrote: ‘With Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott not even making the bench against Newcastle, it would be no surprise if they moved on in the remaining eight days of the window.’
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Prospective suitors could be emboldened after St James’ Park snub
Fabrizio Romano claimed in recent days that the Italian forward has been nursing a minor ‘physical issue’ and isn’t necessarily ‘on his way out’ of Liverpool, but the 28-year-old’s omission on Sunday seemed telling.
Chiesa and Elliott – who were part of our Premier League-winning squad just two seasons ago – were snubbed in favour of Lewis Koumas, who came on for his top-flight debut and just his second competitive Reds appearance yesterday.
While we’re all for seeing the Welsh youngster in action, that context highlights just how far down the pecking order the men wearing numbers 14 and 19 appear to be, with Iraola preferring to trust in youth (James McConnell and Trey Nyoni were unused substitutes at St James’ Park).
Any prospective suitors for Chiesa and/or Elliott may have been encouraged by their omissions on Sunday and sufficiently emboldened to test the waters with an offer for one or both of the attackers in the coming days.
It’s quite plausible that either or both of them could leave before the deadline on Tuesday week, but with Liverpool not exactly overflowing with squad depth right now, we certainly wouldn’t be shepherding either of them out the door.
It shouldn’t be forgotten just how impactful both of them can be (and have been) off the bench for us in the past, even if neither of them would want to be typecast in the role of ‘supersub’.
Remember the first game last season against Bournemouth, the defending yesterday against Newcastle was just as bad, it’s as if slot hasn’t left.
Can’t wait for Monday night football when hopefully Jamie carragher lays into the inept midfield setup by Iraola.
A year on from the Bournemouth game and nothing has changed or improved.
Same pathetic full backs who are too lightweight and can’t defend.
The same midfield that cant tackle for peanuts, and the same expensive flops in wirtz and Isak who are passengers .
What was the point in sacking slot then.
Intensity? Where, there was none against Newcastle.
Yes both Eloitt and Chiesa can be sold…as well as Tsimikas – Frimpong and Gapko…Frimpong is a disaster but our scribes say nothing about his just AWFUL performances. Ngumoha had a shocker on the right wing…the MIDDLE was A FREEWAY FOR NEWCASTLE – Nyoni should have played/why Iraola was he not?. Wirtz had a shocker and even Szobo was uncharacteristically quiet. We need a top notch number 6 to hold the middle (freeway quiet) plus we need a right and left winger (not an injured Minteh or an over hyped and over priced Barcola…you need to d better Hughes!) and probably a right and left sided fullback…In short my prediction if we do not sell and buy what we need to in this window…we will be lucky to finish 6th or 7th and it will nit be Iraola’s fault/indeed it almost looks like he is being set up to fall by the new (yes it will be 100% sale) owners. YNWA