Liverpool Sent Transfer Warning Over Marc Guehi Pursuit by Jamie Carragher After Missing Out on Deadline-Day Move for England Star

Jamie Carragher Warns Liverpool After Missing Out on Marc Guehi Transfer as Premier League Title Race Heats Up

Transfer windows often leave behind more questions than answers, and for Liverpool, the 2025 summer market ended with a sting. Despite striking a deal with Crystal Palace and even completing a medical for Marc Guehi, the England international defender ultimately stayed put. For a club with title ambitions, the collapse of that move could yet prove costly.

And who better to sound the alarm than Jamie Carragher, a man who knows the art of defending—and the risks of lacking depth—better than most? Speaking candidly, the Liverpool legend warned that missing out on Guehi could return to haunt the Reds in their quest for back-to-back Premier League crowns.

What Happened?

The saga unfolded dramatically on deadline day. Reports suggest that Liverpool and Crystal Palace had agreed a £35 million fee (€40.5m/$47m) for Guehi, a price many felt was a steal for a 25-year-old centre-back already established at international level.

Guehi travelled for a medical, and all signs pointed toward a late-window coup. But just when the paperwork was expected to be signed, Palace pulled the plug. The reason? Manager Oliver Glasner reportedly threatened to walk away from Selhurst Park if the club sanctioned the deal without securing an immediate replacement.

Liverpool’s defensive reinforcement evaporated in an instant, leaving the Anfield hierarchy frustrated and Jurgen Klopp—or rather, his successor Arne Slot—with an unwanted headache.

What Carragher Said

Fulham FC v Liverpool FC – Premier League

On The Overlap Podcast, Carragher didn’t mince his words when asked about the failed Guehi move.

“Might they regret that [missing out on Guehi]? Listen, they are three games in, nine points from nine and probably not played that well, so we would probably all say they are big favourites, Liverpool. But that is the one area [defence] where that could come back and blow up in their face because they haven’t really got that [cover].”

The former defender highlighted the lack of reliable depth behind starters Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté.

“What Guehi was getting was giving Liverpool competition at centre-back. They haven’t really got that. They’ve got two starters and two understudies. Joe Gomez, injury-prone himself, and the young lad from Italy [Giovanni Leoni], he is going to be a great prospect, but if you think if one of them had to play for a couple of months, it is a big difference.”

For Carragher, the lesson is clear: in a title race where fine margins decide everything, failing to reinforce at the back could unravel the Reds’ season.

The Bigger Picture: Liverpool’s Title Challenge

Liverpool began the season strongly: three games, three wins, nine points. The reigning champions are favourites again, boasting attacking firepower that rivals any in Europe. Yet football’s cruel logic often punishes even minor oversights.

Last season, City pushed Liverpool all the way, with Arsenal not far behind. A couple of injuries in the wrong positions can tilt the scales. For all their offensive brilliance, Liverpool’s defensive line is held together by veterans and players with fitness concerns.

Van Dijk remains imperious but is now 34. Konaté, as commanding as he is, has had his fair share of setbacks. Gomez, once tipped for greatness, has become a case study in bad luck. That leaves Leoni, a teenager thrust into the spotlight earlier than planned.

Without Guehi, the Reds are banking on good fortune as much as good football.

Did You Know?

• Marc Guehi has been capped 25 times by England and scored his first international goal during the 5-0 win over Serbia in the recent break.

• The defender came through Chelsea’s famed Cobham academy before making the switch to Crystal Palace in 2021.

• Last season, Guehi ranked among the top five Premier League defenders for interceptions and progressive carries—a profile that fits Liverpool’s style.

• Guehi has missed just 11 league games in the last three seasons, underlining his durability compared to Liverpool’s current defensive corps.

Guehi’s Response on the Pitch

If Guehi was frustrated by the collapse of his dream move, he hid it well. During the international break, he was a standout performer for England, starting both matches and capping the window with his first goal in national colours.

Observers noted his composure, leadership, and ability to step into midfield with the ball—traits that would have slotted seamlessly into Liverpool’s high defensive line. Instead, Palace benefit from his presence, and Liverpool are left pondering what might have been.

What Next for Guehi and Liverpool?

Liverpool v Arsenal – Premier League

For Crystal Palace: Guehi will remain central to Glasner’s plans as Palace aim for stability. Their decision to block his move shows how indispensable he is to their defensive structure. Guehi is expected to start against Sunderland this weekend, with fans likely giving him an extra cheer for his loyalty—forced though it may have been.

For Liverpool: The Reds head to Turf Moor to face Burnley, aiming to make it four wins from four. But as Carragher warns, the true test will come later in the season, when fatigue sets in and injuries inevitably bite. If Van Dijk or Konaté spend extended time on the sidelines, the lack of a Guehi-type signing may look like a glaring oversight.

Liverpool’s Transfer Strategy Questioned

This episode also sparks broader questions about Liverpool’s transfer strategy. The club has been praised for its data-driven, disciplined approach to recruitment. Yet there’s a fine line between discipline and stubbornness.

Were Liverpool too hesitant to push Palace harder for a replacement solution? Could they have offered a short-term loan back to ease Glasner’s concerns? Or did they simply underestimate Palace’s resolve?

Either way, the failed Guehi move underscores how complex modern transfers have become, with managerial politics often as decisive as money.

Carragher’s Warning Echoes Past Lessons

Liverpool fans don’t need reminding of seasons where defensive frailties derailed their ambitions. In 2020-21, injuries to Van Dijk, Gomez, and Joel Matip left Klopp scrambling, forcing midfielders into emergency defensive roles. The Reds only salvaged a Champions League place on the final day.

Carragher, who lived through eras of both glory and struggle at Anfield, is well-placed to spot the warning signs. His words may be blunt, but they reflect a genuine concern: without reinforcements, Liverpool risk repeating history.

Conclusion: Liverpool Sent Transfer Warning Over Marc Guehi Pursuit by Jamie Carragher

The collapse of Marc Guehi’s move to Liverpool might seem a footnote in a summer of big deals, but Jamie Carragher’s words suggest otherwise. For a club aiming to defend their title, the margins are razor-thin.

Liverpool remain formidable, but the absence of depth at centre-back could be their Achilles’ heel. Guehi, meanwhile, continues to shine for Palace and England, showing exactly why the Reds were so keen to bring him in.

Should injuries strike, Carragher’s warning will echo louder with every game. And in a season where small details define champions, missing out on Guehi may yet prove the story that shaped Liverpool’s campaign.