Jamie Carragher completes Liverpool transfer U-turn after Chelsea victory

Arne Slot’s Liverpool had a quiet transfer window but the current squad’s impressive start to the season has prompted Jamie Carragher to change his tune on future plans

Jamie Carragher has changed his mind on Liverpool’s need to revive their interest in Martin Zubimendi after Curtis Jones’ man of the match display against Chelsea.

Zubimendi looked to be on the verge of an Anfield move over the summer, only to opt to stay with Real Sociedad. Rather than moving onto other transfer targets, the Reds began the campaign without adding a new midfielder of any kind.

The Reds’ only outfield signing was Federico Chiesa, who joined in a cut-price deal from Juventus. Liverpool boss Arne Slot has used a few different midfield combinations this season, with Ryan Gravenberch often the deepest-lying of a trio.

Jones came in for the visit of Chelsea, with Alexis Mac Allister having been away in South America during the international break. Jones was the star of the show, making vital contributions at both end of the pitch in a 2-1 win, prompting Carragher to wonder aloud whether his former club need Zubimendi at all.

“Curtis Jones was brilliant, he was outstanding,” Carragher said on Sky Sports’ coverage of the game. “He’s still at that stage where he doesn’t know for certain if he is first choice, when you have got Gravenberch and Mac Allister.

“But what a performance that was, when you think of the quality on the pitch and the money that has been spent. For a local lad to be player of the match.

“I wonder if Arne Slot is going to go back in for Zubimendi in January, but when you see how he played today you think ‘no’. He [Jones] has to now do it on a consistent basis.”

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The comments mark a change from Carragher’s stance in early October. “I would imagine Endo would move on if we brought another player in. And if that player is Zubimendi…there are reasons why he turned us down,” the former England international told Liverpool.com.

“But I think at 25, Spanish international, that was the time to make that move to Liverpool, the Premier League. And by the way, this is not a Liverpool thing. If it was Arsenal, if it was City, If it was Chelsea, whoever, that big move to the Premier League and playing in the Champions League and having a realistic chance of winning a Champions League.

“I can understand if those reports are right that he’s maybe regretted it because those opportunities don’t come around too often. For me as a Liverpool fan, I would go back in for him if he was making noise that he wanted to come because I do still think we need another player in there.”

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