Graeme Souness doesn’t believe Liverpool have the strength in depth to compete in both the Champions League and the Premier League.
Our former skipper reckons Jurgen Klopp needed to bring in more high quality players during the summer transfer window and that we’re a little thin on the ground to challenge.
“No I don’t,” Souness frankly told the Daily Post, when asked if we have enough numbers.
“The fact Klopp went out on such a limb to get Van Dijk, didn’t get him and has not got anyone since then tells you that was an area he was trying to strengthen.
“That he was willing to pay such big money for a defender suggests that is his priority going forward.
“If they were to have a bad run of injuries and some key games came along it would hurt them badly.
“Manchester United could survive, it wouldn’t hurt City at all and those are the two teams you look at to do well in both competitions. They have stronger squads to pick from.
“What has happened with the Champions League is teams are focused on the next (European) game and not the (Premier League) one in front of them.
“You have to get results in both competitions.”
On one hand, we agree with the Scot. The fact Klopp tried to buy a centre-half does suggest we need one and our failure to do so means we’re short in that area of the field.
But that’s not a problem of depth, but quality. It’s an elite central defender who plays every game, we need; not another body to bolster numbers and ‘compete’ for positions.
And from midfield upwards, there’s plenty for Klopp to choose from.
Let’s say that with a fully squad, the manager could pick a front six of Henderson, Can, Coutinho; Mane, Salah, Firmino…
That leaves Wijnaldum, Grujic, Lallana, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Sturridge out of the XI – not to mention the likes of Woodburn, Solanke and Ings.
For us, that’s plenty – with Naby Keita arriving next summer.
So while a world-class centre-back is needed, depth isn’t an issue.