Liverpool have had major injury problems this season.
For a couple seasons, rival fans always asked how Liverpool would perform should their top players get injured.
Now that question will be answered.
Long List Of Absentees
The Reds lost goalkeeper Allison earlier in the season. They bave also lost centre back Virgil Van Dijk for the season after a tackle by Jordan Pickford.
We have also seen players such as Jordan Henderson, Joël Matip, Fabinho and new signing Thiago Alcantara spend time on the sidelines.
Sadio Mane missed time due to COVID protocols and Mo Salah is set to suffer the same fate. Joe Gomez has recently been ruled out for most of the season with an injury suffered in England training and Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to miss time after his injury he suffered against Manchester City last weekend.
From the most commonly used starting eleven, we have seen 8 of those players miss time due to injury, with only Andy Robertson, Roberto Firmino and Georginio Wijnaldum the only players not to miss games.
With the recent Joe Gomez injury, this leaves Liverpool with a massive injury concern in the defence.
Van Dijk, as previously mentioned, is out for the season and the club cannot rely on Joël Matip to stay fit.
Youngsters Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips have done well when called upon. However, as much as I would like to see them be given a go, they are still both very young.
Fabinho and Matip are both set to be fit for next Sunday’s match against Leicester, which would almost certainly see the pair of them play together at the centre back position.
Whilst they would both do a good job, Fabinho would be missed in the holding midfield role where he performs so well.
This is why Liverpool should look at signing someone in January.
Step forward France and RB Leipzig centre back Dayot Upemecano.
This is someone who I feel is the best available defender that Liverpool can go out and get.
The 22 year old is one of the most highly rated young defenders in world football. He has been linked with clubs such as Manchester United, Arsenal and is rumoured to have an asking price of £40 million.
This is a price tag that would be available in the summer but with the current defensive injury crisis, Liverpool should look at getting Upemecano in January, even if this means the club would have to pay slightly more for the 22 year old.
Despite his uncharacteristic performance in Leipzig’s recent 5-0 Champions League defeat to Man United, he still is someone that Liverpool should go out and get.
Not only is he over six foot and well built, he is strong and good on the ball.
He reminds me of Rio Ferdinand, with his ability to defend as well as being able to play the ball out from the back.
As good as Matip has been these past few seasons, Upemecano is young and has plenty of potential and Matip cannot seem to stay fit. Having him alongside Van Dijk would form a physical partnership that would be hard to play against for any striker.
With the amount of injuries suffered by Liverpool this season, squad depth is key. Upemecano would not only add strength in depth but would also add even more quality to the starting eleven.
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