Liverpool

Liverpool: James Pearce discusses club’s centre-back transfer issue

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Image for Liverpool: James Pearce discusses club’s centre-back transfer issue

Liverpool journalist James Pearce has been sharing his thoughts on the Merseyside club’s January transfer window and the fact that they haven’t signed a centre-back, despite their troubles in defence, highlighted by their recent defeat against Manchester United in the FA Cup. 

This comes after Pearce recently made an appearance on The Athletic’s Liverpool-themed podcast The Red Agenda where he discussed a number of talking points concerning Jurgen Klopp’s side at the moment.

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On the subject of their centre-back issues and why the club have not signed a new defender this month, Pearce had this to say on the matter.

He said: “We’ve talked a lot about why they haven’t done business this month so far, because availability isn’t great; money, of course, is another issue – Klopp spoke about that last week when he said, ‘I don’t make those kinds of decisions, I never have done.’

“Some people pounced on those comments as a sign that there were some issues with the owners. I think it was more Klopp just reaffirming what has always been the case, that every deal that gets done, the money side of it has to be signed off by the owners and we know that money is tight in the current climate, but I couldn’t help but come away from that game [against United in the FA Cup] thinking, forget about the long term, forget about someone that’s suitable for the next three or four years, Liverpool needs someone for the next three or four months – and if that means a loan signing or it means someone who’s a free agent, then so be it.

“We’re not looking for the next Virgil van Dijk, we’re just looking for someone who’s better than what Klopp has got available to him at the moment at centre-back.”

During the previous summer transfer window, the Reds sold Dejan Lovren to Zenit St. Petersburg but did not sign another centre-back to take Lovren’s place in the squad.

As well as Lovren’s departure, the club were handed a double injury blow as Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez both picked up long-term knee injuries earlier in the campaign.

As a result of this, Liverpool have had to play Fabinho for the majority of the season as a centre-back with Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips also chipping in with appearances every now and again due to the sporadic appearances of Joel Matip.

TIF Thoughts on James Pearce’s comments on Liverpool’s defensive issues…

Given how Liverpool have already conceded 22 Premier League goals so far this season after 19 games played, this shows that they have some weaknesses at the back, having let in just 14 at the same stage last season.

If the financial aspect is the main reason why the club haven’t signed a new defender yet, then as Pearce suggested, there are several centre-back that are currently free agents that the Reds could try and strike a deal with until the end of the season.

Would you be happy if Liverpool signed a free agent centre-back this month?

Yes

Yes

No

No

In our view, Liverpool need to sign a centre-back this month or else they could be in real danger of failing to retain their Premier League crown by the end of the season, having fallen out of the top four prior to their big clash against Tottenham Hotspur this evening.

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