Liverpool Star Delivers Brutal One-Word Roast That Leaves Marc Guehi in the Crosshairs
Hugo Ekitiké delivered a pointed jab at Marc Guéhi's choice to join Manchester City, posting a playful social media response suggesting Liverpool don't require his services.
Ryan Gravenberch was deployed at center-back during Wednesday evening's Champions League demolition of Qarabağ at Anfield, prompting Ekitiké to comment with what amounted to a metaphorical "Guéhi!!" cry when the Dutch midfielder posted match photos.
Manager Arne Slot instructed Gravenberch to slot into the defensive line alongside captain Virgil van Dijk, who remarkably recorded three assists in the commanding 6–0 victory. The makeshift defender faced minimal pressure from the Azerbaijani side, who struggled to mount any serious attacking threats, with his primary impact coming through his ball-playing abilities during Liverpool's possession-heavy display.
Nevertheless, keeping a clean sheet is always valuable and it eased pre-match worries about who would partner Van Dijk with Ibrahima Konaté away on compassionate leave and Joe Gomez sidelined through injury.
Guéhi nearly joined Liverpool previously, but he eliminated any possibility of reviving that move when he accepted Manchester City's proposal to transfer there this month, rather than waiting for his Crystal Palace contract to expire and exploring options as a free agent.
Liverpool Will Have Harder Games Than Qarabag
Liverpool Will Face Tougher Tests Than Qarabag
Wataru Endo represented another possible candidate for the center-back role this week, having previously filled that position when needed. However, neither he nor Gravenberch offers a sustainable answer, considering Liverpool were overwhelming favorites against Qarabağ despite their respectable previous performances.
Regarding the demanding physicality of Premier League football, which has shifted back toward a more robust style after years emphasizing technical play, it seems doubtful that either Gravenberch or Endo would prove adequate.
Slot remains optimistic that Konaté might return for Saturday's home encounter with Newcastle United, though he "cannot promise" it will definitely happen.
Liverpool Must Sign Centre Backs
Liverpool Must Recruit Central Defenders
Central defensive depth has reached a precarious point for Slot. Konaté, absent following his father's death, won't be out long-term, but his absence exposes the fragility in that area. An injury to the French defender, who has yet to extend his contract beyond this campaign, combined with Joe Gomez's inconsistent availability and Giovanni Leoni's extended absence, could prove disastrous.
Beyond Ekitiké's jest, it demonstrates precisely why Liverpool required Guéhi last summer and why central defenders remain a pressing concern.
Should Konaté choose free agency, though it's increasingly difficult to envision where attractive offers might emerge after a disappointing 2025–26 campaign thus far, Liverpool would likely need to sign at least two center-backs, considering that Leoni remains a teenager with minimal experience after only 17 top-flight matches in his career, and Van Dijk is approaching 35 years old.