Liverpool transfers: Reds ready to rub Man Utd's faces in yet another failure

It’s been years since Manchester United were truly competitors for Liverpool.

Whilst Liverpool galloped to three Champions League finals, a Premier League and multiple title races, Manchester United toiled with endless squad churn and demands that it should be better ‘because it’s Manchester United’.

Their transfer business and inability to build a long-lasting, competitive squad is one of the main issues on their long list of failures in the time.

Read more: Mido makes EXTRAORDINARY Marmoush prediction

One on the many list of names is Alvaro Carreras, the left-back that didn’t make a single appearance in a Man Utd shirt, was shipped out on loan to Preston, and then performed so well in loan spells at Granada and Benfica that he is now Benfica’s starting left-back.

That despite Man Utd struggling for a left-back to fill in due to Luke Shaw's injury problems, with even Sofyan Amrabat playing there last season.

He was sold for just €6m at the end of last season and, after being afforded a starting spot due to injuries, has taken the baton and run with it in Benfica’s last seven games.

The highlight of Carreras' season thus far was an outstanding performance in the Portuguese side’s 4-0 thumping of Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last week.

A Robertson replacement?

Spanish outlet

Diario AS

is now reporting that Liverpool are eyeing up Carreras as a potential Andy Robertson replacement.

It has started to feel like Robertson is entering the latter stages of his Liverpool tenure. Whilst he is undoubtedly Liverpool’s starting left-back, head coach Arne Slot’s willingness to play Kostas Tsimikas more and more whilst Robertson cuts a frustrated figure off the pitch means a replacement will be needed sooner rather than later.

And whilst neither player has a goal involvement to their names this season, Carreras’ underlying numbers are promising. He has 0.8 expected assists so far this season, suggesting finishing from his chances created have been poor.

He has higher progressive passes, carries and receptions per-90 than Robertson this season, indicating that the forward-thinking nature of Robbo’s play that we have come to love would be replicated. 

He’s also outpacing Robertson massively in shot-creating actions per 90 so far this year, with 3.77 to Robbo’s 2.28. Defensively, Carreras holds a 2.95 tackle & interception rate per 90 to Robertson’s 1.4, with a 63.6% tackle success rate to Robertson’s 50%. 

He cuts a dynamic figure and, at just 21, could bide his time until Robertson begins to take a back seat in the role.

What is Manchester United’s loss could be, as ever, Liverpool’s gain.