This summer, Chelsea and Liverpool emerged as the Premier League’s heaviest spenders, collectively shelling out over £700 million in the transfer market. Yet despite their lavish outlays, both clubs are now grappling with significant defensive issues, largely due to their failure to secure the services of a top-tier centre-back. The absence of a player of Marc Guehi’s caliber has exposed vulnerabilities in their backlines, casting doubt over their ability to consistently challenge for major trophies this season.
Liverpool came close to bolstering their defense with a £35 million move for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, but the deal collapsed at the eleventh hour. The Reds’ attempt to sign the England international highlights how much they recognized the need for defensive reinforcements. Unfortunately for them, timing and Palace’s reluctance to sell prevented the move from materializing, leaving Liverpool’s defense under increased pressure. Their current partnership of Virgil Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate has not provided the consistency or reliability required, with Konate’s form notably below expectations, further destabilizing the team.
Chelsea, meanwhile, chose a different path. Despite suffering a serious setback when Levi Colwill sustained a long-term knee injury in pre-season, the Blues opted not to pursue a replacement of Guehi’s caliber. Instead, their transfer focus shifted toward attacking reinforcements, bringing in talents like Alejandro Garnacho and Facundo Buonanotte. This approach has left Chelsea’s manager, Enzo Maresca, navigating a highly unsettled defensive line. By the time they host Liverpool, Chelsea will field their sixth different centre-back pairing in just ten games, a statistic that underscores the instability at the heart of their defense.
Injuries and suspensions have only compounded Chelsea’s defensive woes. Trevoh Chalobah, a regular presence alongside various partners, is suspended following a red card in a recent defeat to Brighton. Other options such as Josh Acheampong, Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana, Jorrel Hato, and Benoit Badiashile offer versatility, but none match the quality or experience of Guehi, Van Dijk, or Arsenal’s top defenders like William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes. Younger players like Hato and Acheampong are still adapting to new roles, further emphasizing the risks Chelsea faces in the Premier League’s highly competitive environment.
Liverpool’s defensive instability mirrors Chelsea’s challenges. The collapse of the Guehi transfer is particularly glaring given Ibrahima Konate’s struggles and Joe Gomez’s limited availability due to injury. Even new signing Giovanni Leoni, a promising Italian centre-back, has been sidelined with an ACL injury, compounding Liverpool’s difficulties. Without these reinforcements, Arne Slot’s squad must cope with a patchwork defense while integrating other new signings, including full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, putting additional pressure on their system.
Ultimately, both clubs’ summer spending sprees highlight a critical lesson: investing heavily without addressing defensive priorities can leave teams exposed. Chelsea and Liverpool have poured vast sums into talent acquisition, yet the absence of a world-class centre-back like Marc Guehi has already begun to cost them in terms of stability and performance. As they prepare to face each other, both sides must contend not only with their own vulnerabilities but also with the broader implications of their strategic choices in the transfer market.
