Liverpool will return to Premier League action without their first-choice back four who are missing through injury. This isn’t an ideal way to return to action and it’s high time the side re-considered signing new defenders.
Jurgen Klopp looks “threatening” as he prepares for Sunday’s trip to Leicester City. However, recently, his key forward, Mohamed Salah tested positive for coronavirus while on international duty with Egypt while captain Jordan Henderson withdrew from the squad for England’ Nations League match against Iceland.
All included, it is the back that has major issues and is stack up. Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are set to miss most part of the season. Similarly, full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson sat out at internationals because of fitness concerns.
The situation facing Liverpool is bad especially for a team that won last season’s Premier League title and is one point behind Leicester City.
So far this season, the Reds have kept one clean sheet in the League and conceded 16 goals. Compared to last season at the same stage, Liverpool had let in six goals and had managed two clean sheets.
Possible options.
With Joe Gomez sidelined, Joe Matip is the only fit senior center-back. Although the Cameroonian has had injury problems, it is generally accepted he cannot play three matches in a week.
The 23-year-old Nat Phillips and the 19-year-old Rhys Williams have played in recent weeks. However, Phillips can domestically play as he was not registered for Europe although he stood out on his Premier League debut against West Ham on October 31st.
Williams on the other hand has featured five times this season and does not look troubled. Klopp has also played midfielder Henderson and Georgina Wijnaldum on the defense. The former has been played in the Club World Cup while the latter away at Brighton.
Kostas Tsimikas, the back-up left-back has not played in the Premier League yet while the ever-dependable James Milner could fill in on either flank.
Should the Reds sign defenders?
Van Dijk was an expensive January purchase after he moved from Southampton to Anfield for £75m. Having spent on Diogo Joto and Thiago in the summer, Klopp was consent to face this season with three senior center-backs and let Dejan Lovren leave.
With the situation at hand, who will Reds look at suppose they make a move in the January transfer window.
The 21-year-old Dayot Upamecano is a player who has attracted the attention of many European top clubs.
Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly has repeatedly been linked with a move to the top end of the Premier League. Also, Brighton’s Ben White was said to be on Liverpool’s radar at the end of last season although he has been playing as a midfield for the Seagulls.
Bringing the Wolves captain, Conor Coady on board again was a recent suggestion from former Reds defender Jamie Carragher during an interview with Sky Sports. Coady was with the Reds for seven years as an academy player before he made his debut in 2012. His stock has significantly raised in recent months as he established himself as Southgate’s England squad.
Nonetheless, with either a stick or twist, getting a new defender depends on how the League table looks come 1st of January.