Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool could miss out on the Champions League next season if they don’t invest in a new defender.
The Reds legend warned his former club that they will struggle to finish in the top four of the Premier League table unless major changes are made in defence.
Arne Slot’s side won the Premier League title last season, but this season they have lost all momentum.
Liverpool have already lost more games in eleven gameweeks (five) than during their entire title-winning journey (four).
This puts them in eighth place in the table and eight points behind leaders Arsenal.
They have won just one of their last six games and lost four in a row before beating Aston Villa in early November.
And a 3-0 defeat to rivals Manchester City was a poor start to the international break this month.
Liverpool’s struggles have raised some doubts about Slot and the performances of certain players this season.
Carragher shares some of the concerns about the Reds and believes they lack physicality in their team at the moment.
“I think there are a lot of little things,” he said in Overlap.
“But if we’re honest and look at the games they’ve lost and the type of games they’ve lost, they can’t handle the physicality of the Premier League.”
“Arne Slot wanted to get Liverpool to almost have more football, more goals and entertainment.”
5
5
“When he played against Man City last week he spoke to Pep [Guardiola] like he was his hero, and he probably is to a lot of coaches.
“That’s his football. He’s trying to push Liverpool in one direction and I think the Premier League has taken a step backwards in terms of physicality.”
Carragher then highlighted his concerns about their dwindling title chances and where exactly he thinks they need to improve in the upcoming January transfer window.
He said: “I don’t think this group of players are capable of winning the Premier League this year, even considering the points and the gap.”
“Maybe in January [they’ll need to recruit]more physicality, more speed, more strength.
“I think if Liverpool don’t sign a defender in January they could miss out on the Champions League.”
5
Liverpool’s defensive problems
Liverpool have only kept three clean sheets in 11 Premier League games so far this season.
And they only had one shutout this season, in the Champions League against Real Madrid.
Slot’s men have conceded 17 goals in the league and scored just 18 themselves, while conceding a further eight goals in other competitions.
The numbers are worrying this early in the season, with title rivals Arsenal conceding just five goals in the top flight, Man City eight and Chelsea 11.
Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate have failed to repeat their previous form, which has led to criticism.
Konate has particularly come under criticism for his performances as rumors of a possible move to Madrid emerged.
5
5
Who could Liverpool sign?
Some Liverpool fans may see the summer transfer drama as a reason why they struggled at the back.
Marc Guehi was close to moving from Crystal Palace but deadline day drama ensured he stayed.
Had Guehi joined, the season might have started differently.
However, the English central defender could well become an option again in January, even if the Reds initially had no interest in making another offer for the soon-to-be-out-of-contract star.
Giovanni Leoni joined the club in the summer, giving them another option in defence, but the youngster suffered a cruciate ligament injury on his debut in September.
And their lack of depth combined with their poor defensive record will likely mean they will have to heed Carragher’s request to look for another team in the market.