By Luke Delaney

With just the one win so far for Liverpool in the league since the start of 2021, Liverpool fans are becoming worried about retaining their title due to the club’s lengthy injury list of absentees.

Both Virgil Van Dijk and Joe Gomez have been ruled out for what looks like until the end of the season and with both Fabinho and Joel Matip picking up injuries this week, Liverpool are definitely in need of strengthening their defensive options. Injuries to all four of these players have left the Champions without a recognised senior centre back.

Jurgen Klopp at the beginning of the January Transfer window publicly came out and said that due to financial reasons disrupted by the COVID 19 pandemic that the club weren’t likely to strengthen during the window. But following the clubs win 3-1 win this week , recent injuries to Joel Matip and Fabinho has changed the mind of both the board and Jurgen Klopp.

“I am not sure there is an £80 million centre back available at the moment or that teams would sell. We need to find the right player and it has to suit our financial situation.” Said the Liverpool manager after hearing the extent of Joel Matip’s ankle ligament injury. Liverpool’s injury problems has without a doubt frustrated both Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool fans around the world as it seems that the Fenway Sports Group who own Liverpool FC are reluctant to spend money this transfer window.

With a trip to West Ham next for the defending Premier league champions, it looks almost certain that captain Jordan Henderson will start at centre back next to either one of the youngsters Rhys Williams and Nat Philips.

Should Liverpool decide to strengthen defensively I will take a look at some possible suiters for the 6 time European champions.

One player who is currently targeted by Europe’s elite is RB Leipzig’s Dayot Upamecano. He has been recently been linked with Liverpool but the sale of him to Liverpool seems unlikely during this window considering the fact that Liverpool face Leipzig in the next round of the UEFA Champions League.The 22 year old Frenchman reportedly has a release cause of around £40 million and would be a healthy addition to any of the worlds elite clubs.

Sven Botman of Lille is another young centre half with a lot of potential and is currently having an excellent breakthrough season at Lille OSC in Ligue 1. Standing at 6 foot 4 inches the dutchman has represented Netherlands at every youth level and many Liverpool fans believe he would help their defensive woes if brought it at the right price this window.

Out of favour Real Madrid defender Eder Militao is another option for Liverpool with the Galacticos open to loaning the young Brazilian out. A short term deal could benefit both Militao and Liverpool as he wouldn’t be guaranteed first team action when the likes of Van Dijk and Gomez return but at a loan fee of around £2.5 million for the rest of the 2020/21 season , it looks like a deal which could happen and would suit Liverpool’s style of play.

Jurgen Klopp would ideally like a centre back with premier league experience and one man who has that is world cup winner Shkodran Mustafi. Mustafi has struggled to hit the ground running with Arsenal and finds himself very far down the pecking order at Arteta’s Arsenal but could he be the answer to Liverpool’s injury crisis. The German centre half would be available for a small fee and would add well needed cover to the Liverpool defence should Klopp decide to take what would be a big gamble in securing him.

A name that not many are mentioning but has become linked with Liverpool this week is USA and New York Red Bulls’ captain Aaron Long. With the MLS suspended until April , Long would be allowed to leave the club on a short term deal and there’s no doubt that a move to one of the worlds biggest clubs in Liverpool would definitely appeal to the American international. Long has a great reputation in the MLS and won the MLS best defender award in 2018.The difference in the MLS to the premier league is massive but could he have the same impact on the premier league as the likes of Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan and Tim Howard have in previous years.