Jamie Carragher has insisted that Liverpool can’t challenge for the Premier League title until they bring in a defensive midfielder and another defender.
Jurgen Klopp‘s side have enjoyed an encouraging start to the season and are currently in third place in the Premier League, three points behind leaders Manchester City.
However, Liverpool drew 1-1 away to Luton on Sunday in a game which club legend Carragher feels emphasised some of their shortcomings.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher said: ‘What Liverpool have had in the last 18 months, they’re a lot better at it this season, they’re still not as good as Manchester City at stopping counter-attacks. People always think about Liverpool pressing from the front, but Liverpool are a team who dominate possession, have a lot of the ball. They’re not quite as good as City in possession so there’s more turnovers when they lose the ball.
Opponents seem to find spaces a lot more to get in behind and attack Liverpool. Luton didn’t have the quality to really punish them except for the goal that we saw.’
Alexis Mac Allister, who joined Liverpool from Brighton, has been operating as a holding midfielder for much of the season.
‘Liverpool in midfield are a lot improved than we saw last season but they still haven’t got a top holding midfield player. Mac Allister ‘s not a holding midfield player. He’s good on the ball in terms of receiving but defensively he finds it really tough and lacks a bit of pace for that position, so I still think they can improve there.
Carragher also claimed that Liverpool need to bring in another defender, perhaps a right-back who would allow Trent Alexander-Arnold to move into midfield at times.
He said: ‘I think in the back four Liverpool could do with not so much a player for a specific position but almost just a great defender who can play a couple of positions. They went with Gomez today at left-back instead of Tsimikas, they thought he’d be stronger defensively.
‘I still think Liverpool could do with another player in that position, probably on the other side at right-back and maybe release Trent at different times maybe into midfield, against certain opposition you play someone there who’s maybe stronger and tougher defensively.’