Jamie Carragher predicts where Liverpool will finish if they fail to sign a defender

Add as preferred source on Google

Jamie Carragher has told Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football – as per Football Daily – that Liverpool have got to sign a central defender this month, and has predicted where they will finish if they fail to do just that in January.

Liverpool went into Monday night’s match against Southampton having drawn three of their last six Premier League matches, but they went one worse against an in-form Saints side. Danny Ings scored a wonderful goal early on.

The scoreline remained the same, with the ex-Liverpool man proving decisive. Jordan Henderson dropped back into defence alongside Fabinho, despite Nat Phillips helping Liverpool keep a clean sheet against Newcastle United.

Rhys Williams was also on the bench. Carragher thinks failing to sign a defender will see Liverpool remain in a title chase but fall off towards the end of the season – whereas a new centre-back signing will help them retain it.

“It’s imperative Liverpool sign someone in January, that’s obvious,” Carragher said. “Using Henderson won’t do much for the two on the bench – how do they feel? Henderson did well, but he’s not a centre-back.

“I can’t see Liverpool winning the league if they don’t bring a centre-back in. I still think Liverpool will have enough quality to really go for the title if they don’t bring someone in. But it is a tough ask if they don’t bring someone in.”

TBR’s view – Carragher has it bang on, but CB signing might fail

Signing a centre-back is one thing, but the pressure on that defender to then step in and replace Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomexz and Joel Matip and become the solution to Liverpool’s woes this season will be enormous.

Sven Botman continues to be linked after impressing at Lille. But he has only got just over 20 senior appearances under his belt, having left Ajax in the summer where he had failed to making a single first-team outing.

A centre-back must be signed, but that centre-back has got to hit the ground running and cope with the gigantic pressure that will inevitably be placed on their shoulders.