After Liverpool agreed on a fee with Preston North End for Ben Davies, many supporters were a little taken aback. The reaction wasn’t, however, a reflection of the 25-year-old’s talent. Instead, it merely stemmed from surprise, with few expecting the reigning Premier League champions to raid the Lilywhites to resolve their defensive issues. But, on deadline day, the defender officially made the switch to Anfield. So, what can supporters expect from their new recruit?
The Attributes to Thrive Under Klopp
With his contract expiring, Davies looked to be heading for Scotland, with Celtic interested in his signature. However, Liverpool’s interest upset the Scottish club’s plans, and they are now thought to be “gutted” having missed out on the 25-year-old. By many, Davies was regarded as one of the best ball-playing defenders in the Championship, with an opportunity in the Premier League being only a matter of time. For Liverpool, this deal shouldn’t leave fans speechless. In recent years, they’ve bought players from relegated and lower-league clubs, including Andy Robertson, Georgino Wijnaldum, and Joe Gomez, each of whom have been pivotal to their recent success.
In the absence of Gomez, Joel Matip, and Virgil van Dijk, the Reds have lost both pace and passing precision from their backline. Davies, however, has the attributes to revitalise Liverpool’s defence. According to the Mirror’s view on him, he’s an intelligent, technically-gifted footballer who possesses a great deal of pace. Moreover, he’s also left-footed, so there’s potential for him to form a formidable partnership with Robertson.
Perhaps his most important attribute is pace. Even without their leading defenders, Liverpool have continued to play a high line. However, with slower options to call upon, they’ve been caught out on the odd occasion. Because of his speed, Robertson can focus on offensive phases without worrying about covering a slow, left-sided central defender.
A Low-Risk Signing
Regarding the fee, Liverpool paid Preston an initial £500,000, although the price could rise to £1.6 million. Furthermore, Preston also have a 20 per cent sell-on clause relating to profit, while the Lilywhites also took Sepp van den Berg on loan from the Reds. Along with Davies, Ozan Kabak also joined Liverpool on deadline day from Schalke on a loan deal with an option to buy, meaning that there’s less pressure on the 25-year-old.
On paper, there are very few negatives regarding Liverpool’s recruitment of Davies. Because his contract was expiring, the Reds purchased him for a cut-price fee. As such, should he struggle to adapt to life at Anfield, then Klopp’s team could move him on for a profit. In many ways, the only real losers in this situation are Preston, who have lost their best defender. That said, the Lilywhites will still be hopeful of securing a top-six finish, and, as of February 5th, are 20/1 in Championship betting to do so.
Another Shrewd Addition?
There are no guarantees that Davies will swiftly adapt to the Premier League, but, if he can, Liverpool may have a gem on their hands. Technically, he can play in a Klopp team, but there’s pressure to deliver, especially given the defensive crisis that the Reds find themselves in. Of course, he needs time, but Liverpool need an immediate impact, and he’s more than capable of delivering.
