Jamie Carragher believes that Liverpool might miss out on the Champions League subsequent season if they do not spend on a brand new defender.
The Reds legend warned his former membership that they may wrestle to complete within the prime 4 of the Premier League desk until a serious change on the again is made.
Arne Slot’s aspect cruised to the Premier League title final marketing campaign, however all of their momentum has disappeared this season.
Liverpool have already misplaced extra video games in 11 matchweeks (5) than they did for his or her total title-winning journey (4).
It leaves them down in eighth place within the desk and eight factors behind league leaders Arsenal.
They’ve solely gained one in every of their final six outings, shedding 4 consecutively earlier than a win in opposition to Aston Villa at first of November.
And a 3-0 thrashing by rivals Manchester Metropolis was a poor approach to head into the worldwide break this month.
Liverpool’s struggles have raised some doubts over Slot and the performances of sure gamers this season.
Carragher echoes among the worries over the Reds and believes they’re missing physicality of their group in the meanwhile.
“I feel there are many little issues,” he mentioned on the Overlap.
“But when we’re being trustworthy, trying on the video games they’ve misplaced and the kind of video games they’ve misplaced, they can not deal with the physicality of the Premier League.
“Arne Slot needed to maneuver Liverpool to nearly have extra soccer, extra targets and leisure.
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“When he performed Man Metropolis final week, he was speaking up Pep [Guardiola] like he was his hero, and he most likely is for lots of coaches.
“That is his soccer. He is making an attempt to push Liverpool a method and I feel the Premier League has gone again when it comes to physicality.”
Carragher then identified his concern over their withering title possibilities and the place precisely he thinks they should enhance within the upcoming January switch window.
He mentioned: “I do not assume this group of gamers is supplied to win the Premier League this 12 months, even with the factors and the way far behind they’re.
“Possibly in January [they’ll need to recruit], extra physicality, extra tempo, extra energy.
“I feel if Liverpool do not signal a defender in January, they may miss out on the Champions League.”
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Liverpool’s defensive woes
Thus far this season, Liverpool have solely stored three clear sheets in 11 Premier League video games.
And so they’ve solely had another shutout this time period, which got here within the Champions League in opposition to Actual Madrid of all groups.
Slot’s males have let in 17 league targets and have solely scored 18 themselves, conceding one other eight in different competitions.
They’re regarding numbers so early within the marketing campaign, with title rivals Arsenal solely conceding 5 within the prime flight, Man Metropolis letting in eight and Chelsea 11.
Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate have been unable to duplicate their earlier type and that has led to criticism.
Konate has come beneath hearth for his performances particularly, amid rumours of a possible transfer to Madrid.
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Who might Liverpool signal?
Some Liverpool followers might look to their summer time switch drama as a cause why they’ve struggled on the again.
Marc Guehi was getting ready to signing from Crystal Palace, however some Deadline Day drama meant that he stayed put.
If Guehi had joined, the season might have began in a different way.
Nevertheless, the England centre-back might nicely grow to be an possibility once more in January, regardless of the Reds initially not being involved in making one other bid for the quickly to be out-of-contract star.
Giovanni Leoni joined the membership in the summertime, giving them another choice on the again, however the teen picked up an ACL harm on his debut in September.
And the dearth of depth alongside their poor defensive report is more likely to see them should comply with Carragher’s request to delve into the marketplace for one other physique.
