Inside Liverpool's summer so far - should fans be worried?

What the report says

BBC Sport says Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the United States has highlighted both promise and problems for Arne Slot’s side, particularly in defence. The club won two games and lost one on the trip, but a 4-2 defeat by Leeds in Chicago underlined concerns after Liverpool conceded six goals across three matches. The report says the team used a heavily rotated and youthful back line, while captain Virgil van Dijk is back in training but other defensive options remain uncertain or unavailable.

According to BBC Sport’s Aadam Patel, the tour reinforced the view that Liverpool need at least one experienced centre-back and possibly a right-back before the Premier League season begins at Newcastle. The piece notes that Conor Bradley is still some way from returning, while Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai had been used out of position last season. Former captain Phil Thompson also told BBC Sport that Liverpool need stronger leadership in the dressing room after several experienced figures have moved on.

The article says Liverpool’s recruitment focus is also shifting forward, with Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola described as the main target after the club missed out on Yan Diomande. BBC Sport reports Liverpool have already signed Victor Munoz from Osasuna and are weighing up further sales and loans, including interest in Curtis Jones and decisions on young players such as Rio Ngumoha and Kieran Morrison. The wider context is that Liverpool appear to be rebuilding in several areas at once, with squad depth and experience emerging as the key issues before the season starts.