With the January window just underway, Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool have one major priority they must sort out first.
Liverpool have no choice but to go all out for a defender in the winter window, says Jamie Carragher.
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has had to deal with a number of injuries this term, especially in the heart of defence.
Liverpool were rocked with the reality that Virgil van Dijk will more or less miss a good part of the current season after suffering a knee injury against Everton in October 2020.
If that wasn’t enough, Joe Gomez picked up a similar knee injury of his own and would also be out on the long-term like Van Dijk.
Fabinho has been slotted as a stand-in centre-back for Liverpool and has also had to shrug off injuries. Joel Matip who has played alongside him recently joined the treatment table as well. It leaves youngsters Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips as the only other centre-back options at the club.
Regardless, Liverpool begins 2021 at the top of the Premier League but Carragher warns they could drop or go through a rough patch if they fail to bring in defensive additions this January.
“Jurgen Klopp will be cursing a missed opportunity if Liverpool do not retain their title,” the former Reds defender told the Telegraph.
“Liverpool are the best team in England, but circumstances have opened the door for everyone with dreams of catching them.”
“I felt at the start of the season that the only thing that could stop Liverpool was injuries. In August, my fear was that a setback for one of the front three might see them fall back into the pack. The club addressed that with the signing of Diogo Jota. Now my concern is focused on their defensive issues.”
“The injury to Virgil Van Dijk alone will cost Liverpool between nine and 12 points over the course of this season. Although Fabinho has proved a fantastic deputy at the back, Joel Matip’s ongoing problems means, to me at least, that it is inconceivable that Liverpool will not sign another centre-half at the earliest opportunity.
Liverpool have been linked with Schalke defender Ozan Kabak and Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly in recent time.
Carragher further explains why a defender is the one thing the Reds must get sorted.
“I cannot understand the logic of not doing so. The club needed one anyway.” he added.
“If Matip continues to be in and out of the side, and then Fabinho gets injured, how can Liverpool expect to perform at the highest level with only the inexperienced Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips to step in? That is too big a risk.”
“The way Liverpool have dealt with the loss of key players so far shows they will still take some stopping, but it will not be as one-sided as last year and failing to sign another defender will only lift the hopes of everyone else.”
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