Liverpool’s Defensive SOS: Four Free-Agent Fixes After Leoni’s ACL Blow
Liverpool have shelled out a jaw-dropping £414m in a single window, fresh from cruising to the Premier League title, yet here we are in mid-autumn talking about centre-backs and chewing fingernails. The late chase for Marc Guehi fizzled as Crystal Palace slammed the door, a clutch of departures — notably Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen — trimmed the depth, and now 18-year-old Giovanni Leoni’s cruel ACL injury after a composed debut in the 2-1 League Cup win over Southampton has left Arne Slot staring at a numbers game. Add Ibrahima Konaté’s recent withdrawal from France duty, and the alarm bells around Anfield aren’t just tinkling — they’re clanging.
This is the uncomfortable truth: Liverpool can’t simply cross their fingers and limp to January. They need one more body at centre-half, and they need him yesterday. You can weave in tactical tweaks and the usual shapeshifting, but when the fixtures pile up, centre-backs are like gold dust.
Why cover matters now
At the time of writing, Slot is essentially juggling three recognised centre-backs, two of whom have had their dance with the treatment table. If another knock hits Virgil van Dijk or Joe Gomez, experience becomes priceless. That’s why the free-agent market — not usually FSG’s flavour — suddenly looks less like a bargain bin and more like a sensible insurance policy.
Four free agents who fit the bill
1) Craig Dawson
When the chips are down, you want a defender who knows his way around a scrap. Craig Dawson, 35, has seen it all — and headed most of it away. At 6ft 2in, he brings muscle on set pieces, reads danger early, and racks up clearances for fun. With 300-plus Premier League appearances on the ledger, he’s plug-and-play cover who won’t be fazed by a title chase or a cold Tuesday night anywhere.
2) Joel Matip
A romantic shout, yes, but not just sentiment. Retired in 2024 and still only 34, Joel Matip is a cult hero for a reason: smart positioning, progressive passing, and a calm head when chaos swirls. He knows the dressing room, knows how to dovetail with Van Dijk and Gomez, and his 201 Liverpool outings came with the small matter of Premier League and Champions League medals. Minimal outlay, maximum familiarity — and a morale jolt the Kop would lap up.
3) Takehiro Tomiyasu
Still just 26 and, as reported, available, Tomiyasu ticks the modern defender box: two-footed, comfortable across the back line, and tactically disciplined. The caveat? Calf and knee niggles, with whispers he won’t be fully in the groove until the back end of October after barely six minutes this campaign. But fortune favours the brave — and if he’s fit, he offers flexibility Slot would adore.
4) Daniel Amartey
Fresh from a stint with Besiktas after leaving Leicester, Amartey brings bite and a no-frills approach. Eighteen league appearances in Turkey last season, seven more in the Europa Conference League, 27 in total — plenty of minutes in the legs. Reports suggest he’s unattached due to contract wrangling, not ability. As a short-term stopper, he’d give Liverpool size, strength and simplicity in both boxes.
Internal stopgaps if FSG stay cool
Historically, Liverpool don’t smash the panic button. If that continues, expect a reshuffle. Wataru Endo and Milos Kerkez have already had brief cameos at centre-back under Slot, while Andrew Robertson can tuck in and Ryan Gravenberch has the frame to drop deeper when needed. Rhys Williams is the other specialist on the books, though trust levels appear modest after a choppy few years. The 2020/21 scars are still fresh enough to remind everyone how quickly a title tilt can wobble when square pegs meet round holes — and not every emergency loan works out, as we learned back then.
Pundit’s verdict
Keep it simple. If Liverpool want zero drama, Dawson is the safe, steady, sleeves-rolled-up choice. If they crave familiarity and a feel-good jolt, Matip makes romantic and footballing sense. Tomiyasu is the upside play if the medicals smile, while Amartey’s the rugged, short-term shield for heavy-pitch nights and set-piece skirmishes.
Will FSG deviate from the plan? Probably not — unless another setback strikes. But with the schedule only getting nastier, a one-window stopgap could be the difference between cruising to February and crossing yourself every time the fourth official lifts a board. If you’re weighing up the odds on how this defensive puzzle gets solved, have a look at our best betting sites and decide where you stand. Either way, the message is clear: Liverpool are a centre-back light, and the market’s offering them a lifeline. It’s time to grab it.
