Former Liverpool defender John Arne Riise believes the Reds could return for Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi in January after his summer deadline day move collapsed
Former Liverpool defender John Arne Riise has said he “wouldn’t be surprised” if Marc Guehi secures a transfer in January. The 25-year-old saw his deadline day switch to the Premier League champions collapse after Crystal Palace called off the deal.
Arne Slot’s side have since been hit by a defensive crisis with injuries ravaging the Dutchman’s options. Ibrahima Konate seemed to be missing from the Reds’ preparations ahead of their clash with Wolves on Saturday (December 27) while Joe Gomez has recently rejoined Giovanni Leoni in the treatment room following his latest injury blow.
Leoni, who arrived from Parma for £26million in the summer, sustained a season-ending knee injury during his Liverpool debut against Southampton in their Carabao Cup victory in September. This has left limited choices for partners to line up alongside Virgil van Dijk.
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Riise, who lifted the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005, has hinted that it wouldn’t be shocking to see the England international finally complete his move to Anfield next month. “I was so disappointed that Marc Guehi didn’t sign for Liverpool in the summer, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they had a mutual agreement that it would go ahead in January,” he said.
“I hope he does because he’s the type of player I would like to see fighting with Konate for a position next to Virgil van Dijk.” Liverpool have also struggled defensively in matches, with Konate battling to find consistency.
The French defender, who has filled in alongside Van Dijk for most of the campaign, has had tough moments against Bournemouth, Newcastle United and Leeds United. Despite the risk of further injury problems, plus Konate’s previous record for time on the sidelines, Slot has previously avoided commenting on January additions, with Guehi out of contract in the summer and able to enter pre-contract negotiations with overseas clubs.
Slot said: “Some teams have so many (options) but most other teams do not. This is our way of working at Liverpool.
“The outside world wants to believe we have unlimited money but that is not true. You insiders know – and you are the only ones because the outside world only talks about our spending – what we have brought in (money) to spend.
“That is the way we work over here. You then have to accept that in certain games during a season you are short of a right full back. But we are still able to win. I fully believe in that way of working, by the way.”
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
