Jamie Carragher has compared Liverpool's current squad to Manchester United's treble-winning side of 1999 following Federico Chiesa's transfer.
The Reds have secured the signature of the Italian winger from Juventus for a remarkable $13.2m (£10m/€11.9m) to take their attacking options to six, with the 26-year-old joining Mohamed Salah , Diogo Jota , Darwin Nunez , Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo in Arne Slot's front line.
It means that there is now a back-up in each of the three forward positions, with Salah previously holding down his place on the right without any real competition due to both Diaz and Gakpo preferring to play on the left.
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However, Chiesa's arrival changes that and the Italian will pose as an impressive option off the bench for the Egyptian throughout the remainder of the season. But with so much depth in attack now at Slot's disposal, Reds legend Carragher has made an interesting comparison.
Speaking to Sky Sports News about Chiesa's signing, he said: “I think the Chiesa deal is fantastic. I think in all the time Mo Salah has been at the club, he stands out that much, he never misses games, Liverpool have never quite had anyone to fill in that role when he’s not been there."
He added: "I was speaking to Gary (Neville) the other day when they (Manchester United) won the treble in 1999 with four strikers. This is the same in some ways.
"The way the game's moved now, where teams play with three strikers or three attacking players - Liverpool have got six. It's like-for-likes, straight back-up's and I imagine there will be a lot of rotation, with players not always playing 90 minutes as well."
Carragher's comments suggest that Liverpool now has the squad depth and resources in attack to compete on all fronts like the Red Devils did 25 years ago. If Man United can achieve the treble with four strikers, what can the Reds achieve with six?
And if Chiesa can stay fit, along with the rest of Liverpool's forward players, then his signing could be worth so much more than the minute fee suggests, which Carragher believes is "an absolute snip."
“Chiesa coming in initially will be back-up to Mo Salah," the former Reds defender said. "But I think when you go back to the Euros when Italy beat England in the final I thought we were looking at a £60/70million player at that time.
“He had a big injury after that, an ACL, but last season looking at his minutes and appearances it wasn’t too bad. I think it’s an absolute snip. I think it’s a great deal for Liverpool.”
Slot has confirmed that Chiesa is unlikely to feature in Sunday's matchday squad to face Man United at Old Trafford but didn't rule it out entirely, meaning a late call could be made. The Italian did train on Friday, however.
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