“Paul Joyce Tips West Ham Maestro’s Anfield Masterclass to Spark Liverpool Transfer Shake-Up”
“Paul Joyce Hints West Ham Star’s Anfield Heroics Could Push Liverpool Into Transfer Frenzy”
Paul Joyce has implied that a standout performance from a West Ham player at Anfield on Sunday has underlined a specific area Liverpool may need to strengthen in the transfer window this summer.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has long been Liverpool’s primary creative force, but with his potential departure to Real Madrid looming, the team could be left lacking in that department.
Reflecting on Liverpool’s 2-1 victory over Graham Potter’s side, Joyce highlighted Lucas Paquetá’s influential display. The West Ham midfielder’s performance raised concerns about who in Arne Slot’s squad could take on the creative burden if Alexander-Arnold leaves.
Writing for The Times, Joyce noted: “Watching Paquetá weave his magic raised the question of “where Liverpool will find their creative edge, particularly if Trent Alexander-Arnold departs for Real Madrid on a free transfer this summer.” The transfer market may be the only answer.”
Is a creative signing a must for Liverpool?
While Trent Alexander-Arnold’s vision is invaluable, it’s actually Mo Salah who leads Liverpool in assists this season, racking up an impressive 23 across all competitions—15 more than the next highest contributor, Luis Diaz, who has eight.
The midfield quartet of Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, and Alexis Mac Allister have combined for 21 assists, averaging just over five each. That suggests there’s room for growth in terms of creativity from the centre of the pitch, especially for a side closing in on a Premier League title.
Liverpool have long relied on their full-backs for attacking threat, with Trent and Andy Robertson consistently delivering from wide areas. With changes looming, two full-back options linked to Arne Slot’s incoming squad offer promise: Milos Kerkez has produced six assists for Bournemouth this season, while Jeremie Frimpong has notched an impressive 11 from the right at Bayer Leverkusen.
Although Salah remains a potent creative force and will likely stay at Anfield for a few more seasons, Trent’s expected exit will leave a creative gap that Liverpool would be smart to address this summer.