Liverpool have serious defensive concerns but must sign £100m-rated man this summer

Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony admitted Liverpool’s defending in pre-season gives him ‘anxiety’.

The Reds have shipped an alarming seven goals in their last two pre-season friendlies, with three coming in a loss to Monaco on Sunday.

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MacAnthony was especially worried that Monaco’s winner was scored via a set-piece.

It was a glaring issue for the Reds last term as they conceded 23 goals from set pieces in the Premier League.

Only Leeds (24), Crystal Palace (25) and Bournemouth (26) conceded more.

Given new Reds boss Andoni Iraola was in charge of Bournemouth last term and they shipped the most, there is serious work to be done.

Although MacAnthony was under no illusion pre-season is rarely an accurate representation of what happens once the campaign properly gets underway, he feels there is still cause for concern.

What was Darragh MacAnthony’s verdict on Liverpool’s defending?

“Defensively, we should worry,” MacAnthony, who doubles as a Liverpool fan, said on talkSPORT’s White and Jordan.

“You saw things at the weekend, set-piece goals conceded. That was a real issue for Liverpool last year. The winner for Monaco was a set-piece, someone not picking up a player who’s got a free header from three yards out. That happened too often last year.

“(Virgil) Van Dijk, making a mistake again, being clumsy. He’s not often clumsy.

“Look, it was messy, defensively. There were a lot of great points attacking-wise, some of the young players did really well. But defensively, we give you anxiety watching the last two games.

“As much as it’s pre-season and you’ve got wingers playing at right-back and midfielders playing at centre-back, it’s just a mish-mash at the moment that’s uncomfortable to watch.

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“I know they’re signing the Barcelona guy (Ronald Araujo), there’s going to be some strength coming in and players coming back, but they’re the things you want to see fixed.

“And I don’t like seeing my team give away set-piece goals again. That was a big problem for us last year.”

One player who MacAnthony believes would help alleviate some of Liverpool’s defensive issues is Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton.

Wharton has previously been tipped for a big move elsewhere, with Manchester United’s interest already known.

Why Adam Wharton could be Liverpool’s game-changer

But MacAnthony wants to see Liverpool make a big splash in the window by snaring Wharton, who he believes will be a starter for ‘the next seven, eight years.’

“I’d love them to sign Adam Wharton,” MacAnthony said.

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“I think (Alexis) Mac Allister, for me, his legs were gone last year. It was only when he put an Argentina shirt on that his legs reappeared.

“If you could do business there with him going, I think you bring him (Wharton) in and you’ve got a player for the next seven, eight years that will be a starter.

“He’s got so much upside and potential in him.

“Even if he costs £85-100m or whatever else, you’re getting the player for the long term.”

Wharton is poised to begin the new season at Palace, who have a Europa League campaign to look forward to thanks to their Conference League triumph.

There’s also a new coach at the helm of Palace in Pierre Sage, who takes over from Oliver Glasner after he left at the end of his contract but has since joined Nottingham Forest.