Liverpool are reportedly eyeing a whole host of talented players in the weeks preceding the January transfer window, but one star who should be avoided is Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic. 

Speaking to Football Insider, former West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie stated that Jurgen Klopp’s men should veer away from a deal for Pulisic, who has been linked with a surprise switch to Anfield.

While Pulisic is demonstrating in Qatar that he is a talented, guileful winger, and while he would almost certainly add another dimension to Liverpool’s roaring attack, his arrival might have a detrimental impact on Mohamed Salah, Liverpool’s stalwart and prolific talisman. 

McAvennie said:

“He is a good player but Liverpool have [Luis] Diaz and [Darwin] Nunez, they have still got [Mohamed] Salah and [Roberto] Firmino. There is [Diogo] Jota when he comes back.

“So I do not see where he would play unless someone is leaving. The only one you would think would go would be Salah but he does not want to leave. I just can’t see anyone else.“

Pulisic, reportedly regarded at roughly £35m by Chelsea, who signed him for £57.6m from Borussia Dortmund in 2019, has failed to cement his place in the regular starting line-up at Stamford Bridge, somewhat down to injury.

But now, off the back of an impressive World Cup in Qatar with USMNT, where the 24-year-old recorded a goal and two assists, serving as an offensive focal point as his nation secured a place in the knockout phase, his calibre is beginning to shine through.

However, as he approaches his mid-twenties, Pulisic will unlikely be enamoured with spending long periods of his club career confined to the bench, and will finally want a platform to flourish with regularity from the opening whistle. 

For Liverpool to hand this to him, would come at the expense of one of the club’s already formidable attacking options, with Salah the most likely to be upheaved, positionally. 

And the metrics allude to that being a very contentious call.

Since joining the Merseyside outfit for £34m in 2017, Salah has scored 170 goals and registered 68 assists in 275 appearances, hugely commendable numbers for any forward on the planet.

Pulisic would be unlikely to reach these prolific heights, and despite the youth of the “magician” being on his side, Salah is still in his prime at 30 years old and remains a devastating talisman, the difference-maker in the crucial, season-defining moments. 

As per FBref, Salah ranks within the top 1% for non-penalty xG, total shots, touches in the attacking penalty area, and progressive passes received, highlighting his devastating, unrivalled presence as a goalscorer from the right flank. 

Ultimately, for all his talent, Pulisic might disrupt the balance at Liverpool, and detract from the centre of the park, where investment truly is needed. Therefore, Liverpool - and Klopp - should avoid, and focus on what matters.