Liverpool has to sign a central defender in the January transfer window, Jamie Carragher has said. This is coming after African CB, Joel Matip sustained a serious injury vs West Brom.
According to him, Matip will not play every game between now and the end of the season, and that was known before his recent injury, therefore the Reds have to sign somebody.
He added that even if Fabinho has been doing a decent job in defence so far, he needs a reliable partner as Matip is too injury prone.
His words, “It’s a massive worry, but it’s not a new worry. Joel Matip will not play every game between now and the end of the season. We knew that even before the injury today, that’s why it’s paramount Liverpool sign somebody in January. I said that as soon as Virgil van Dijk had his injury against Everton.
“Fabinho’s gone there and looked like a top class centre-back in that position, so maybe people at the club felt the need wasn’t as urgent. But Joel Matip is too injury prone, his body can’t take the rigour of playing Premier League football week in, week out, we know that since he joined, he’s a really good player.
“I still believe Liverpool are the best team in this league, even without Van Dijk and I think most people would say they’re favourites to win the Premier League. The only way they don’t win it is if they have problems at centre-back, where Rhys Williams or Nat Phillips have to play for a prolonged period of time. The odd game now and again, they’ve done fantastic, but I know, since that’s the position I played, it’s not really a position for young players as such. At times they will make mistakes as they’re young players, they’re learning.”
“That’s the only way that could cost Liverpool, and I don’t necessarily mean bringing in a centre-back for £70-80 million like a Van Dijk type of signing, and not necessarily someone to go straight into the team. Just someone there so that Liverpool don’t end up with two young lads at some stage for five or six weeks if Fabinho was to go down injured.
“At this moment, Liverpool have one senior centre-baclk who is available this season and he’s injury prone, so they have to do something in January.”
