On The Ball | Liverpool’s defensive risk backfired spectacularly – time to panic-buy reinforcements before it’s too late
- Champions grab first Premier League win in six games but injuries to Van Dijk, Gomez and now Matip will have knock-on effects
- Klopp and owners must act fast or league title and Champions League spot under threat
A 3-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on Thursday is a cause for celebration but it did not come without unnerving consequences for Liverpool. Defender Joel Matip limped off at half-time and will undergo a scan to assess ligament damage to his ankle.
The gaping hole at the centre of Jurgen Klopp’s defence just got bigger. The manager is now sweating on the fitness of Fabinho, a midfielder drafted into the back line, for the Premier League match against West Ham United on Sunday. There is a strong possibility, too, that Liverpool will resume their Champions League campaign against RB Leipzig next month with a badly patched-up backline.
The risk that the reigning champions made last summer has backfired spectacularly. Going into the season with only three senior centre backs was dangerous. The club doubled down on their gamble this month by not bringing in a central defender. Now, with the transfer deadline looming on Monday, they may be forced to panic buy. “I’m not picky or whatever,” Klopp said, “but we need to find the right player.”
Time is slipping away. Virgil van Dijk was ruled out for the season in October, Joe Gomez in November. The months since have been wasted. Trying to reinforce the rearguard over the weekend turns recruitment into an even more risky business than usual.
Not buying cover at centre back could well turn out to be the biggest error of the 10 years Fenway Sports Group (FSG) has owned the club, a decade with more than its fair share of mistakes.
