Pedro Neto exposes Liverpool’s ‘joke’ transfer call as Joe Gomez role questioned

Liverpool’s decision not to strengthen their defensive options was shown up early against Wolves in the Premier League.

The Reds spent close to £150million during the summer transfer window, but only on midfielders, a decision which was put under scrutiny at Molineux, despite a 3-1 win.

3

Neto ran at the defenceCredit: TNT Sports

3

And made his way through with easeCredit: TNT Sports

With Virgil van Dijk suspended and the often injured Ibrahima Konate only available for the bench, 20-year-old academy graduate Jarell Quansah was given his first start at centre back.

Problems were further compounded by an injury to Trent Alexander-Arnold being out with a hamstring issue, leaving fellow defenders Joel Matip and Joe Gomez all at sea.

Gomez saw Pedro Neto fly past him inside seven minutes, and Matip was unable to stop the winger breaking into the box and cutting the ball back for a Hee-chan Hwang opener.

England and Arsenal defensive legend Martin Keown was able to give an expert analysis on talkSPORT, saying: “They sat off him [Neto] and gave him far too much space.

“They [Liverpool] look really good in the press but in the transition they don’t get back into position quickly enough.

“Gomez is equipped with pace but you’ve got to be aggressive, you’ve got to get tighter to people. 

“I know he’s switching from a right back to a midfield berth and on this occasion he was very high up the pitch, but he should be doing better than that.”

Things later got worse for the English defender, with Neto embarrassingly nutmegging him on the touchline, before laying the ball on a plate for Matheus Cunha who botched a far-post header.

3

Neto dominated his battle with Gomez in the first-halfCredit: Getty

Keown added: “It’s going to sound like I’m singling out Gomez, but he’s just watching Neto run. They are getting destroyed down their right side. It’s Jurgen Klopp’s near side and he needs to tell Gomez.”

A number of Liverpool fans were keen to point out the club’s transfer strategy, rather than criticise their own.

One Twitter user wrote: “It’s only 4 games into the season, and we’re playing without Konate and Van Dijk, and wondering why we didn’t went for a CB this summer, when we all knew we need it.”

Another added: “Our whole backline is a complete joke, how we didn’t sign a CB this summer is beyond me. 

“I said before we were a VVD/Konate injury away from disaster, it took 5 game weeks for it to happen.”

There was later a welcome sight for fans, with Konate coming on for Quansah with minutes to spare.

Liverpool already had a 2-1 lead at that point through Cody Gakpo and Andy Robertson, before Harvey Elliott ended the match in stoppage time.

talkSPORT football match centre

Keep up-to-date with all the latest Liverpool fixtures and results and live Premier League standings in our new match centre.