Liverpool’s defensive log-jam to be eased with Ben Davies set for exit
Liverpool’s defensive log-jam to be eased with Ben Davies set for exit
Defender Ben Davies is primed for an imminent loan exit from Liverpool, it has been confirmed.
Reds ravaged
The heart of his backline of course proved a major problem area for Jurgen Klopp at Anfield last season.
This came with the Reds having been forced to deal with a remarkable stretch of bad luck on the personnel front.
First, star stopper and talisman Virgil van Dijk was ruled out for the remainder of the campaign, after picking up a serious knee injury in the Merseyside derby last October.
First-choice partner Joe Gomez then swiftly joined the Dutchman on the sidelines, after suffering a long-term knee problem of his own whilst on international duty a month later.
Incredibly, though, the crisis did not end here, as Joel Matip, the man charged with leading Liverpool’s defensive ranks in the absence of their two starting centre-halves, was too struck down in early February, by a serious ankle injury.
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 22: Joel Matip of Liverpool gestures during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC at Stamford Bridge on September 22, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images)
In a bid to ease the club’s woes at the back, the board at Anfield subsequently sanctioned a pair of January arrivals, with Ben Davies and Ozan Kabak having been brought in from Preston North End and Schalke respectively.
Whilst the former went on to play a considerable role over the 2nd half of the campaign, Davies, on the other hand, was not afforded a single Premier League appearance.
Blades switch
In turn, it should not come as a huge surprise to hear that, on Sunday, Liverpool’s out-of-favour stopper has inched ever closer to the exit door at the club.
With the new season having seen Klopp’s options at the back replenished by the big-money addition of Ibrahima Konate, alongside the returns of the aforementioned van Dijk, Gomez and Matip, all appears well on the red half of Merseyside once again.
Davies, in turn, has been deemed as surplus to requirements, with a departure now imminent.
As per a report from the reliable Neil Jones of Goal, Sheffield United have struck a deal to take the 26-year-old on loan for the 2021/22 campaign.
So close is the transfer to coming to fruition, that it could be announced within the next 24 hours:
Liverpool have agreed to loan Ben Davies to Sheffield Utd for the season.
Deal should be finalised in next 24 hours 🔴#LFC
— Neil Jones (@neiljonesgoal) August 15, 2021
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