Liverpool set for Guehi meeting after £35m transfer collapse on deadline day

Liverpool missed out on the signing of the England international centre-back on Monday night, despite putting in a deal sheet before the 7pm deadline, when Crystal Palace pulled out

In a different world, Marc Guehi would be heading back to Selhurst Park later this month wearing the red of Liverpool. After his achievements at Crystal Palace, he would likely have received a standing ovation.

Instead, when the Reds make the trip to south London towards the end of September, Guehi will still get a standing ovation from the home masses, only this time he'll get one as he leads out the Eagles instead.

On transfer deadline day, the England international was all set to complete his £35million move to Anfield and the Premier League champions. Instead, at the behest of head coach Oliver Glasner, who threatened to quit the FA Cup winners if his captain was sold from under him, Palace pulled out of the deal at the final moment. Palace CEO Steve Parish had reckoned that with less than 12 months left on Guehi's contract the club needed to sell - but ultimately did what his manager had wanted all along.

Throughout the summer, the Austrian had made clear Guehi couldn't be allowed to leave without suitable replacements. On Sunday night, he made that declaration again, after Guehi had scored a stunner in the 3-0 win over Aston Villa in the West Midlands.

"We had a meeting in March and we had an agreement that we're just selling Marc if we have the right replacement in," he said. "And we wanted to have this replacement at the beginning of the season, the pre-season, to be independent from this situation.

"This was July 9, today is August 31, there is no replacement in the building. So it is clear that one part of the agreement is not fulfilled, that means we can't sell Marc. And it's not for Oliver Glasner. It's not a gift or a wish for Oliver Glasner. It's necessary for playing a successful season. We had a great start, we are [for] the first time [playing] European football and I think our fans deserve to have the best players available.

"And know, if we don't sell Marc then Marc will accept it. Because he loves Crystal Palace, he loves the team and we feel the appreciation he has and he also feels the same from his side."

Guehi has been a model professional throughout. And he is very much in Liverpool's thoughts for a cut-price move in January - depending on how the respective two sides' season's are going - or as a free agent next summer.

Before then, the 25-year-old will continue to lead Glasner's side, whether it be in the Premier League, domestic cups or in the Eagles' first foray into major European competition. Palace face Sunderland and West Ham - plus Millwall in the Carabao Cup - when domestic action resumes after the international break.

Then it's Liverpool at Selhurst Park, the third meeting between the two sides in their last 10 competitive outings. For Guehi, things could have been very different.