Rhymes becomes enthusiastic about the gifts you need instead of those you want.
At Christmas or on birthdays, children would sniff in the idea of socks or new school equipment … It was that newest PlayStation game or the new gadget for which all their friends started a playground craze.
For adults, the best presents that Santa Claus can bring are not the shiny toys, but the things they need. Air fryse? I think it's great, the oven could do with a week off. New slippers? Yes, that's going well, all the socks to go with it? Save toiletries? Save a trip to Big Toscos, thank you very much.
Ok, you're still with us … This is about football. The point is that Alexander Isak, to Liverpool, the PlayStation 5 is installed with the new Grand Theft Auto, Fifa and Call of Duty, a plush controller and headset that goes with it.
He is the Michelin Star Filet Mignon Prime Cut with the most expensive bottle of red. The five -star trip to the Maldives.
But is he what Liverpool needs?
Well, there could certainly be an argument that he is and that debate has weight. Signing the Swede would automatically increase the chance that the Reds will defend their Premier League crown and perhaps also go better in Europe.
But signing a no. 9 for an eye-water allowance may not be the top priority. That is especially about the £ 69 million plus add-ons has just been paid to Eintracht Frankfurt for Hugo Ekitike and the £ 116 million for Florian Wirtz, who led the line against AC Milan in Hong Kong on Saturday.
Signing a central defender seems more important. The reason is clear. Liverpool has only three senior players who are of course in the role: Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez-de Vierd choice of the last term Jarell Quansah recently left £ 35 million for Bayer Leverkusen.
Gomez has only played 11 minutes this calendar year. He was injured at West Ham just after Christmas. When, on his return to Plymouth in February, it was rid of pain and it was no longer seen throughout the season.
He has now flown home from Asia because of an Achilles injury and, although it is small, it puts it in perspective in the lack of depth of Liverpool in the area. Midfielder Ryan Gravenberch and left Kostas Tsimikas filled back in the middle in the 4-2 loss for Milan.
Neither of them resemble long -term options. Wataru Endo can also play there and, just like Gravenberch, is skilled in the role. But the problem is this: Gravenberch was the best no. 6 in the Premier League last season, so no matter how good he is when you are defending, you lose the glue of midfield.
Gomez is one of the nicest gentlemen in the team, a leader in the dressing room and the longest serving player of the Reds who is respected by everyone in the building. But it is fair to say that his condition cannot be trusted – even though he is definitely worth keeping for his versatility.
The other pair also has problems. Konate is solid, but last season was the first he had an injury record that could be described as pleasant – what if that does not go ahead?
A greater care is the fact that he still has to sign a new contract with his current deal that will expire next summer and Real Madrid circling.
Van Dijk is the best central defender on the planet, but he is 34 and will not be forever. What happens if the captain suffers the day after the transfer window is closed on a seasonal injury?
Amara Nallo and Wellity Lucky are probably the Academy Defenders in line to perform when a crisis took place, but none of them is on the pre-season tour that may not hint that Arne Slot does not yet believe that they are ready for the first team of football.
So all this leads us to the statement: Liverpool must sign a defender.
Richard Hughes, the sports director, knows this – and they are actively focusing on the center to stimulate their team. But nothing will be improved at this stage, although it could go up in the coming week, since Gomez's small injury put the case in the spotlight.
Marc Guehi is one that they would like to do, although Mail Sport understands that the most important assignment for this position is someone young, skilled on the ball and can learn from Van Dijk and ultimately evolve to his long -term replacement.
Last year they were photographed for Lenny Yoro, but the young Frenchman chose Manchester United and 12 months later Liverpool registered interested in Dean Huijsen who switched Bournemouth for Real Madrid. Both are the profile that Liverpool wants.
The Guehi deal has become quiet, but it is still a possibility. Crystal Palace wants a towering fee for their 24-year-old captain and Liverpool are not willing to pay. But when the FA Cup winners admit, Hughes may feel a chance and pulls the trigger for the English international.
That is how Liverpool works: opportunistic. Isak is a golden chance and one that cannot be sniffed if a deal is feasible. If he is indeed on the market – and that depends on whether Newcastle is firm or not – then Isak is the best no. 9 that can be purchased. It would make Liverpool the team to beat in Europe.
But if it is an or or situation is it, perhaps non-Isak or another no. 9 on top of Ekitike may not be the smartest bit of company. They can have all the shiny strikers that they like, but you cannot win competition without a solid defensive basis.
They currently have that, but with a very thin list of players in reserve, who can crumble and, regardless of how many goals they can score on the one hand, they can have problems with the other. Anyway, back to the Christmas list, where was I? Socks, air frye …