Not Every Missed Target Is A Disaster

There’s a weird thing that happens every window. One name gets linked, the fanbase argues about it for weeks, and then if it doesn’t happen it’s treated like the club has failed a basic competence test.

And to be fair, I get the frustration. We all want Liverpool to be sharp, decisive and ruthless in the market. If there’s a deal that should be done early, then yes, you’d rather it was wrapped up and not left to drift.

But the bit that doesn’t add up for me is the emotional swing. One minute we’re saying our football is slow and a bit drab, that we don’t play with enough tempo, and that the whole thing looks like it’s stuck in second gear. Then the next minute we’re devastated we’ve “lost out” on a quick attacker, as if dropping that player into the same system automatically fixes the bigger problem.

Fit matters more than the name on the rumour list

Take the winger chat. If you think a player like Semenyo is perfect for a more direct, fast-paced game, fair enough. But if you also think Liverpool aren’t playing that way right now, it’s reasonable to ask: what difference does it make in the short term?

That’s why I mentioned Fofana as an alternative. Not because one rumour name is “better” than another, but because the wider point is about options and fit. We don’t know the reasons a deal didn’t happen, and value will always come into it. Liverpool have never been a club that just pays whatever gets shouted at them, even when it drives us mad.

Same with centre-back: need one, but not any one

The centre-back debate is similar. People are really upset about missing out on Guehi, yet plenty were lukewarm on him not long ago. Now he’s gone elsewhere, it’s suddenly framed as a catastrophe.

Yes, Liverpool need a centre-back. That part is obvious. But it doesn’t follow that it had to be that specific player. The Premier League is brutal in the air, and it’s only getting more set-piece heavy. If you’re not fully convinced about the aerial side of someone’s game, you’re allowed to have doubts without it being “negative”.

The priority is direction, not just recruitment

Truth is, I don’t think it’s as bad as some are making out. The bigger conversation is about direction: what football we want to play, and who is best placed to deliver it. For me, a change in the dugout feels like the priority.

And once you’re clear on that, recruitment becomes simpler. You target players who match the style, not just the hottest names of the week. There will always be other options, and Liverpool should be capable of getting them if the plan is right.

This isn’t defending anyone at the club. It’s just saying the sky doesn’t fall in every time one link doesn’t land.

Written by Westwood666: 23 January 2026