When exceptionally intelligent individuals make choices that seem illogical, one might consider three possible explanations:
a.) Their intellect is so far beyond your comprehension that you simply can’t see their brilliance, as they’re playing a complex game while you’re stuck in a simpler one.
b.) They might not be as smart as presumed.
c.) There could be unseen factors influencing their actions.
As I observe Liverpool‘s actions—or lack thereof—in the most recent January transfer window, which closed Monday, I can’t help but wonder which explanation fits here. I hope it’s option c.) and that all will become clear eventually, as b.) would imply that Michael Edwards’ acumen has been greatly overstated (including by me), and a.) would suggest I’m simply uninformed—plausible, but not a pleasant thought.
One undeniable truth heading into the January window was Liverpool’s need for additional defenders. If you disagree, I’ll spend the next few paragraphs persuading you. If I’m unsuccessful, feel free to scroll back to TikTok.
– January transfer winners and losers: Man City on top
– Desperation rankings: Which Premier League teams made panic moves?
– Men’s transfer grades: Every major January move, rated
Liverpool recognized their need for another central defender, as evidenced by their attempt to sign Marc Guéhi from Crystal Palace on deadline day for approximately £35 million ($47 million), which fell through while Guéhi was undergoing an MRI back in August.
Shortly after, Giovanni Leoni, a young defender they had acquired from Parma, suffered a cruciate injury, ruling him out for the season. Now, they had lost TWO defenders.
Then, on January 8, 2026, another defender, Conor Bradley, ended his season prematurely due to a knee injury. That left them down THREE defenders.
Moreover, of the defenders they currently have, one is 34 years old (Virgil van Dijk), two others will become free agents in June (Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konaté), and two more are effectively wingbacks (Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, the latter currently sidelined with a hamstring injury). Then there’s Joe Gomez, who has endured three separate injury spells this season, missing nearly two months due to various issues, including Achilles, hamstring, and hip injuries.
To give credit where it’s due, they do list two other defenders on their website: one is Rhys Williams, who was loaned out to Morecambe in the fourth tier last season, and hasn’t played first-team football for Liverpool in over four years. The other is Calvin Ramsay, once a highly rated right-back but plagued by injuries, having made only five league starts in the past three-and-a-half years, all while on loan.
While you don’t necessarily need to be covered two or three deep at every position like Arsenal does, it’s common sense to have some form of contingency plan for injuries or performance declines due to fatigue. Liverpool has played 80 games across the Champions League and Premier League in the last 18 months, with Van Dijk starting 78 of them without ever being substituted. As he turns 35 in July, are these risks prudent?
All of this makes Liverpool’s lack of action perplexing. Yes, they did sign a promising young defender—20-year-old Jérémy Jacquet from Rennes—but he won’t join until next season. What about the immediate needs?
– Scouting report: What Jacquet will bring to Liverpool this summer
Some believe their heavy spending last summer left them cash-strapped in January, and that Fenway Sports Group, their owners, run a tight financial ship. While that may be valid, if their currently thin defensive lineup costs them a place in next year’s Champions League, they could lose over €80 million in potential revenue. As it stands, Liverpool is sixth and would miss out. And if they get eliminated from this year’s Champions League in the round of 16 instead of proceeding to the quarterfinals, that’s another €30 million lost. (Add all that up, and it could cover the cost of two Jacquets.)
Plus, it’s not as if they need a top-tier talent like Jamie Carragher in January, which is both challenging and costly. All they required was a capable player who could fill in and perform adequately on the pitch.
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Why are Liverpool signing Jérémy Jacquet ahead of next season?
Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens discuss Liverpool’s decision to secure the defender Jérémy Jacquet ahead of next season.
In their last significant defensive crisis during the 2020-21 season, they pulled Nat Phillips from obscurity, and he became a regular starter for half the season. They finished third in the league, and he played in both Champions League quarterfinals against Real Madrid. Are we really expected to believe that they couldn’t find someone to fill a gap, even on loan? Perhaps a promising young player looking for exposure, or a veteran to alleviate wage burdens? Considering the financial conditions of clubs across Europe and the Premier League, is there truly no one available?
The strange aspect of all this is that they had ample time—three months from October to December—to devise a plan and bring in someone when the window opened. Liverpool won just one out of six league matches in January. Could one additional player have made a difference?
Liverpool’s inactivity this January (excluding Jacquet) can stem from one of two reasons: either they attempted—and failed—to recruit additional backup players, indicating an execution problem, or they confidently assessed their defensive lineup to be sufficient—which, to be fair, has exhibited the second-best xG conceded statistics in the Premier League, trailing only Arsenal—rejecting the notion of needing extra insurance, in which case it was a deliberate decision.
If it’s the latter, it flies in the face of conventional wisdom. But, hey, let’s just trust the process, right?