Danny Murphy makes the case for Liverpool making a move for Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson over Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton
Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton, pictured battling for the ball in the match between Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest on August 24, have both been linked with Liverpool(Image: BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)
Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has pinpointed Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson as the ideal midfield addition at Anfield.
Anderson has become an England international since making the move from Newcastle United in the summer of 2024 and was part of the squad that reached the Europa League semi-finals this season under Vitor Pereira.
The former Magpies youngster has become a mainstay for Forest, making 73 Premier League appearances for the club, but he has been linked with a move away this summer as a result of his displays at the City Ground.
Murphy thinks Anderson would add some athleticism and combative qualities to the Liverpool engine room, explaining why he would be a more useful addition than his England team-mate, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.
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“If I was to choose one I would choose Elliot Anderson,” Murphy told Aceodds.com. “It’s not because I don’t like Wharton, I think he’s a brilliant technically gifted footballer, but I think Anderson’s athleticism and defensive work is better.
“He’s more dynamic and he can play more roles. He can play as an eight, he can play as a six.
“I think he ticks a lot of boxes in what you need from a midfielder and now of course he’d like to add a few more goals and assists to his game to be more complete, but I think he’d find himself doing that in a better team.
“He’d suit the way Liverpool want to play, I think. Wharton is a more tactical player, a more ‘sit in there and dictate play’, he’s very progressive, good passer, comfortable on the ball, very graceful.
“But I think if you’re in the recruitment at Liverpool, you’d be looking at Elliot Anderson ahead of Wharton.”
One major sticking point for the Reds, who return to action on Friday night when they are hosted by Aston Villa, is the fact that Forest reportedly want at least £100m for Anderson.