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Liverpool’s January Centre-Back Agenda After Giovanni Leoni Injury

Giovanni Leoni Leoni’s injury leaves Liverpool with three senior centre backs; six transfer options listed

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Giovanni Leoni’s injury has left Liverpool light at centre back and forced a reassessment of January priorities. The club now has three senior central defenders: Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté and Joe Gomez. Andy Robertson, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch remain possible emergency options, but Arne Slot will require defensive reinforcements if Liverpool are to carry on competing on all fronts this season.

Marc Guéhi: The Crystal Palace captain was Liverpool’s near signing in the summer, reportedly completing a medical and even recording a farewell video for Palace. Palace’s inability to find an adequate replacement halted the move, but with Guéhi out of contract next summer a January return looks likely. A cut-price deal could be achievable.

Ronald Araújo: Barcelona’s long-term future for the 26-year-old has been questioned. Araújo signed a new contract with Barça in January that included a £54 million release clause. The Athletic have reported that he would be tempted to leave for a “top Premier League side.” He would provide an immediate, elite option for Liverpool.

Gonçao Inácio: The Sporting CP defender has been central to Sporting’s resurgence and has 17 caps for Portugal. The 24-year-old is left-footed, physically strong and reads the game well. He also offers a threat from set pieces, having scored four or more goals in each of his last four full seasons for Sporting.

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Joel Ordóñez: The 21-year-old Ecuador international has established himself at Club Brugge, making 88 appearances and playing a key role in their recent Champions League run. He offers impressive passing range and defensive contributions, though whether he is ready for Liverpool’s demands is a question.

Murillo: Since arriving at Nottingham Forest in 2023 he has made 36 and then 39 appearances, forming an important partnership with Nikola Milenković. Murillo impressed with anticipation, physicality and ball-playing ability and has been linked with Chelsea, with a reported £70 million price tag.

Castello Lukeba: The 22-year-old moved from Lyon to RB Leipzig in 2023 and has developed into a powerful, speedy defender noted for distribution and left-footedness. His contract reportedly includes a £78 million release clause, though Leipzig might allow a departure for less.

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Analytics & Stats

Salah becomes first player with 152 goal contributions at one Premier League stadium

Salah reached 152 goal contributions at one Premier League ground, overtaking Henry and Rooney. 2026

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Mohamed Salah set a new Premier League benchmark when he reached 152 goal contributions at a single stadium during Liverpool’s 4–1 thumping of Newcastle United on Saturday. That total places him ahead of the previous record of 151, which was held jointly by Thierry Henry and Wayne Rooney at Highbury and Old Trafford respectively.

Salah’s tally at that ground is compiled from 107 goals and 45 assists, producing the 152 figure that now stands alone at the top. Thierry Henry’s total there was 114 goals and 37 assists for 151, while Wayne Rooney recorded 101 goals and 50 assists for the same combined total.

Mohamed Salah

Goals 107

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Assists 45

Total 152

Thierry Henry

Goals 114

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Assists 37

Total 151

Wayne Rooney

Goals 101

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Assists 50

Total 151

Beyond the stadium-specific milestone, Salah remains on course for other career landmarks in the Premier League. He is fourth on the all-time scoring list with 190, 18 behind Wayne Rooney’s 208 and behind Alan Shearer and Harry Kane. Whether he can move up into third depends on form and remaining fixtures: Liverpool have 14 Premier League games left and Salah has scored four goals in 16 outings this season.

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Goals

Alan Shearer 260

Harry Kane 213

Wayne Rooney 208

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Mohamed Salah 190*

Andrew Cole 187

*stats correct as of Feb. 1, 2026

The past 18 months have been full of broken records for Salah and have strengthened his standing in Premier League history. The clock is ticking for Salah and it is not yet clear how long he has left to rack up the numbers. His current contract says 18 months but his tense relationship with manager Arne Slot may suggest otherwise.

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Analytics & Stats

Salah sets unique Premier League record with 152 goal contributions at one ground

Salah reached 152 goal contributions at one ground, surpassing Henry and Rooney’s 151 totals Feb. 1.

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Mohamed Salah became the first player to register 152 goal contributions at a single Premier League stadium during Liverpool’s 4–1 thumping of Newcastle United on Saturday. That total moves him past the previous high of 151, a mark held jointly by Thierry Henry and Wayne Rooney at Highbury and Old Trafford respectively.

Salah’s landmark is the product of sustained output for Liverpool over several seasons. The numbers at that ground break down as 107 goals and 45 assists, producing a combined total of 152. By comparison, Thierry Henry recorded 114 goals and 37 assists for 151, while Wayne Rooney had 101 goals and 50 assists, also 151.

Salah

Goals

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Assists

Total

Mohamed Salah

107

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45

152

Thierry Henry

114

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37

151

Wayne Rooney

101

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50

151

Beyond this stadium-specific record, Salah is also tracking career scoring milestones in the league. He sits fourth on the all-time Premier League scorers list on 190, 18 behind Wayne Rooney’s 208 return and behind Alan Shearer and Harry Kane. Whether he can climb into third remains an open question given Liverpool have 14 Premier League matches left and Salah has scored four goals in 16 appearances this season.

Player

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Goals

Alan Shearer

260

Harry Kane

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213

Wayne Rooney

208

Mohamed Salah

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190*

Andrew Cole

187

*stats correct as of Feb. 1, 2026

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The past 18 months have been full of broken records for Salah, reinforcing his standing in Premier League history. The clock is ticking for Salah and it is not yet clear how long he has left to rack up the numbers. His current contract says 18 months but his tense relationship with manager Arne Slot may suggest otherwise.

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Liverpool

Slot: Liverpool Will Only Sign in January If It Fits a Longer-Term Plan

Slot: Liverpool will only act in January if transfers are smart, long-term solutions after injuries.

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Liverpool face a short-term selection problem after right back Jeremie Frimpong withdrew injured during Wednesday’s Champions League win. With Conor Bradley already sidelined, manager Arne Slot warned the club will not make a kneejerk signing in the remaining days of the January window.

“We as a club always make decisions we at least think are smart decisions,” Slot explained, adding that any addition must fit beyond the immediate need. “We not only look at the short-term, we look at the long-term. It always depends on [if] there are players available that we think can help us and if they are can we afford them … and [if] it is also helpful for the longer-term future because our players come back from injury as well.”

Slot also cautioned against an overstocked roster, noting that “Having a squad with “four right backs, 12 midfielders and three or four No. 9s” is not viable.” The club already regard two of their right backs as among the best in the world, and Slot underlined that both will return to full fitness in the months ahead.

Fabrizio Romano has outlined on YouTube that preliminary market assessments, conducted after Bradley’s injury on Jan. 8, concluded there are “no good right backs” of the “level” Liverpool would demand available in this window. Time is limited: the transfer window closes at 7 p.m. GMT (2 p.m. ET) on Monday and normal fixtures continue across the weekend.

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Slot was pragmatic about immediate availability. “Let’s first see how Jeremie is, maybe he is not able to play Saturday, but maybe he is able to play one or two days later,” he said. “We now go into a schedule where we have one game a week, so that would usually mean less injuries—but you are never sure.”

It is Frimpong’s fourth hamstring injury of the season. Liverpool’s automatic qualification for the Champions League round of 16 means no European matches until mid-March, allowing the squad to focus on the Premier League and FA Cup. Their only midweek fixture before March is the Feb. 11 trip to Sunderland, and the reduced schedule should provide more recovery time.

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