How Liverpool avoided January transfer DISASTER

Liverpool were linked with several left-backs ahead of the January transfer window. As well as Premier League mainstays like Milos Kerkez and Antonee Robinson, certain overseas starts were also scouted.

The Reds’ interest in Patrick Dorgu stretched back almost a year before the Denmark international eventually completed his move to Manchester United.

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The left-sider is a player of considerable potential but demonstrated on Wednesday night that Liverpool might well have had a lucky escape in the transfer market. United paid €30m (£25m) with another €5m (£4m) due to be paid to Lecce in add-ons for Dorgu.

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The Red Devils’ catastrophic first-team shortcomings mean Dorgu has been afforded little time to bed in at Premier League level. He has been thrown in at the deep end and had a ‘mare against Ipswich during the midweek top-flight fixture.

The 20-year-old was first embroiled in a mix-up with goalkeeper Andre Onana, which allowed the visitors to take the lead at Old Trafford. The Tractor Boys pumped the ball forward with Dorgu tracking its flights with Jaden Philogene in close attendance.

Dorgu DISASTERCLASS

Without realising that Onana was on the march, Dorgu nudged the ball back in the direction of his own goal and past his goalkeeper, permitting Philogene to knock in the easiest goal he would ever score.

But Dorgu’s horror show didn’t end there. Just before half-time he crushed Omari Hutchinson with an x-rated challenge. Although the matchday official Darren England failed to award a free-kick initially, the tackle was checked by VAR after which it was decided to issue a straight red card.

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Dorgu is now suspended for United’s weekend FA Cup fifth-round fixture against Fulham as well as Premier League games against Arsenal and Leicester.

“It's the life of a player, you make a mistake but you have to go again and play the next game,” head coach Ruben Amorim said after the match, which finished 3-2 to the hosts.

Liverpool still looking for left-back

Liverpool’s search for a left-back goes on and the club are looking at another 20-year-old in Lewis Hall.

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The Newcastle star has got better Premier League experience than Dorgu and looks to be among the best players in his position in the league this season.

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