Paul Merson says that Liverpool must forget to sign Alexander Isak and concentrate on bringing in a center-back for their Premier League title defense.
On Tuesday, Sky Sports News reported that the Reds are talking to Crystal Palace about the signing of Marc Guehi and believes that the defender wants to join them.
Liverpool gets their competition campaign on Friday when they are facing Bournemouth in Anfield, live on Sky Sports Premier League (kick -off 8 p.m.).
Powered by the attacking attributes of summer signs Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, Liverpool were impressive on the front foot at Wembley, smooth in their combinations and in mind with their progress on the field against Crystal Palace.
But they were also defensively vulnerable, twice admitted equalizers to Palace to undo their good offensive game and then beat in the penalty shoot-out.
Merson, who was at Wembley last weekend, was concerned about Liverpool's defensive performance in the Community Shield and believes that they need defensive reinforcements to increase their title challenge.
Read on for the thoughts of the Magic Man in full …
'Problems for Slot to solve for title defense'
There is enough for Arne Slot to think about the new season.
Last season could not have gone better for him, but it feels like there is so much more to train now.
Last year I thought the team had almost picked itself. This year, however, there seems to be a lot of competition for places, and it will be difficult to keep everyone happy.
Possibly throw in Alexander Isak and that problem gets bigger.
This year I am taking care of Liverpool, especially at the back.
I was at the Community Shield on Sunday and it was about how easily they were cut apart by Crystal Palace.
I am not worried about them in attack. In the future they will be sensational and more often than not they will tear teams apart.
However, I can see that they are caught at the back and especially during the break. Teams will certainly have plans to hurt them.
'Isak to Liverpool guarantees the title? Not for me '
There has been a lot of noise around the potential deal to sign Isak, which suggests that they will romp to the title when they sign the Newcastle striker. I hear many people say that if Liverpool is Isak, the game is in the Premier League. It's ready.
I just don't see them winning the competition as a foregone matter, Isak or not.
If I was Liverpool, I would be more looking for a center back than Isak. That must be the priority for Slot, whose most important center-back options Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez are.
Compare that with the forward line and lock has sufficient options in the future without needing Isak. Ekitike looked very good against Crystal Palace. Wirtz is also a top player. Everyone will enjoy seeing him play this season. Throw Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah and there are more than enough options there.
Why the despair for Isak if it is clear that they need another defender so hard? Adding Isak causes more problems, if there is something, because all attackers cannot all play.
Slot will have to mix things and constantly have to change things to keep everyone happy and that causes problems.
'Crucial to strengthen the defense for the deadline of the transfer'
It is so important that Liverpool gets a defender before the transfer window closes.
They also have the issue of Konate on their way to the last year of his deal in Anfield. They no longer want a Trent situation with him next summer.
Then there is Van Dijk. Everyone looks good next to him because he is a roles of a defender. He's so good.
But if he is injured at all, I fear to think where they would be. He is a great, great player and the lynchpin of the defense. Without him it would be a big problem.
'Salah performance a concern'
Finally it was a bit of a worrying performance of Salah at Wembley.
I don't think I have seen a player play so badly in a football match.
But that can be Salah. He can be missing for a few weeks before scored in a series in 10 games on the trot or hit a hat trick.
One thing that can be difficult for him this season is to play for Jeremie Frimpong.
Compared to Trent Alexander-Arnold, he looks more like an attacking winger.
Salah was able to run with Trent and he would be chosen. Trent would also attract defenders and leave Salah more space. You could destroy Trent yourself.
Frimpong is a good player, but he is not a destroyer. He plays so far ahead that he is not a natural defender. It wasn't Trent either, but the same really applies, I think Ibrahima Konate could be exposed.
There is a big problem on that side of the field, even more than last season.
View Liverpool vs Bournemouth on Friday night football, living on Sky Sports from 7 p.m. kick -off 8 p.m.
Sky Sports to show 215 Live Premier League matches this season
From this season, the Premier League coverage of Sky Sports will increase from 128 games to at least 215 games that are exclusively live.
And 80 percent of all on television Premier League matches this season will be Sky Sports.