Forget Marc Guehi, Liverpool have the new Jamie Carragher after position change

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Arne Slot wants a new central defender at Liverpool.

The centre-back department is an issue at Anfield right now as Ibrahima Konate sees his contract expire in June, while Giovanni Leoni also just suffered a serious knee injury.

Slot admitted he wanted to sign Guehi from Crystal Palace before a deal collapsed on transfer deadline day, but Liverpool might instead be able to promote from within after a surprising development involving Prince Kobe Cisse.

Prince Kobe Cisse adapts well after Liverpool drastically alter his position

Before the 2025/26 campaign began, the 17-year-old son of Djibril Cisse was typically playing as a forward in the youth ranks at Liverpool, or an attacking midfielder.

However, Liverpool have now opted to deploy Cisse in the centre of defence, with the teenager playing his last four U18 Premier League games in that position and impressing.

• 61.5% defensive duels won
• 6.5 interceptions per 90
• 12.86 recoveries per 90
• 3.76 clearances per 90
• 19.44 forward passes per 90

The Wales U17 international helped the Reds record a 3-0 win over Leeds United last time out in the U18 Premier League, and his change of position closely mirrors what Jamie Carragher experienced in the youth ranks at Liverpool.

As the 47-year-old once told the Football Cliches podcast for The Athletic, he too began his time in the academy as a forward, before gradually being moved further back until eventually ending up as a central defender.

Carragher said: “I was a centre forward until the age of 16, 17. My first game for Liverpool reserves was as a striker. When I was a kid I was a number nine, I was quick, I was a goalscorer, broke all the records.

“I was a late developer physically so I couldn’t run away from anyone or beat people with pace, strength, whatever. There was no way I could have carried on as a centre forward because I just didn’t have the pace or the sort of dribbling ability.

“I could hold the ball up, bring people into play but I was just slowly getting further back.”

Trent Alexander-Arnold is another who thrived after position change

Carragher – and now Cisse – are not the only ones to have benefited from a change of position.

Liverpool also moved Trent Alexander-Arnold away from central midfield and into a right-back role during his time in the academy, a switch which paid off handsomely as the England international eventually became the best in the world in that position.

Development staff at Liverpool clearly have no issues when it comes to spotting where talented prospects could perform better – if Cisse continues to impress, he could end up being a solution to the lack of depth in central defender.