Liverpool expected to sign two new players as huge weakness identified in Carabao Cup final loss | OneFootball

Reds’ glaring transfer need made abundantly clear during difficult week that also saw the end of their Champions League hopes

Jamie Carragher believes that Liverpool need to strengthen their attack with two new signings this summer to help out Mohamed Salah.

The Reds remain on course for a first Premier League title since 2020 in their first season under Arne Slot with a 12-point buffer to closest rivals Arsenal with only nine games left to play, but have seen hopes of a potential treble wrecked this week with Sunday’s Carabao Cup final defeat by Newcastle following on just five days after they were dumped out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage by Paris Saint-Germain on penalties at Anfield.

He is also comfortably leading the way in the race for the Golden Shoe award given to the highest scorer in Europe.

However, Salah has attracted criticism this week after two quiet displays by his usual standards against PSG were followed by an anonymous performance in the Carabao Cup final that, per Opta Sports, saw him fail to produce a shot or create a single chance in a game where he played 90 or more minutes for the first time in his Liverpool career.

Reds legend Carragher has quickly come out in defence of the Egyptian after a tough few games, insisting he is not getting enough support from his fellow attackers as he stated his belief that Liverpool will go out and make two new starting-level additions in that area this summer to hopefully play alongside Salah, whose own future remains uncertain with his current Anfield contract set to expire and still no agreement reached over an extension.

Struggle: Mohamed Salah endured a quiet day as Liverpool lost the Carabao Cup final to Newcastle at Wembley

John Walton/PA Wire

“I find it difficult to be too critical of the team,” Carragher said on Sky Sports after below-par Liverpool’s frustrating 2-1 loss to a Newcastle side who secured their first major domestic trophy for 70 years. “I must say that was one of the worst performances I’ve seen from Liverpool in a cup final, probably going back for a very long time.

“But they’ve given so much this season and [are] probably in a position in terms of the league title that no one really expected.

“They’ve lost one league game. They’ve lost here tonight, they’ve lost one Champions League game really, they’ve lost in the FA Cup and maybe a dead-rubber in the Champions League. But in the main, I think they’ve probably lost three or four games that they’ve really wanted to win all season.

“I think what this last week has done is probably shone a light on where Liverpool still need improving.

“I think the lack of pace in the team is glaring, in the attack. I almost feel a little bit sorry for Mo Salah, because he has taken a little bit of criticism after the two Paris Saint-Germain games because he was up against possibly the best left-back in the world in [Nuno] Mendes, who was fantastic.

What this last week has done is shone a light on where Liverpool still need improving

Jamie Carragher

“He didn’t do too much, he wasn’t great today, but he doesn’t get help off the other attackers. This is not like it was under Jurgen Klopp, where [Sadio] Mane could bail Liverpool out of trouble or [Roberto] Firmino.

“The other attackers Liverpool have got are good players, they’re not great players. I don’t want to see too much criticism for Mo Salah over this last week. What it has shone a light on is that Liverpool need to go and buy two attackers, not as squad players, possibly to play alongside Mo Salah, hopefully, for next season.

“I’ve been excited because it looks like Liverpool are going to win the league but there’s still lots to improve. I’m not just saying this on the back of the team losing, but I still think there’s a lot of areas for Liverpool to improve and I think they will in the summer.”