Danny Murphy has revealed that he expects Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp to bring in another central defender this summer to shore up his backline.
Despite again being left impressed by Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren’s partnership in the win over West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, the former Reds midfielder still believes that it’s an area of the squad that needs strengthening.
That argument is backed by the fact that Liverpool have conceded 40 goals in 33 games so far this season in the Premier League, the highest figure out of the top seven teams in the table.
“Matip and Lovren are the strongest pairing,” he said on Match of the Day on Sunday night. “It doesn’t half make a difference when they appear regularly over the weeks.
“The fact James Milner said they’d been working on it all week means they know they’ve got that problem.
“I still expect Liverpool to strengthen in that area in the summer.”
It would also seem like a sensible decision to target a left-back too as although Milner has done a stellar job in that role, surely Klopp would prefer to have a natural left-back rather than have the versatile stalwart continue to fill in.
Liverpool have shown their vulnerabilities at the back this season, with or without the Matip and Lovren partnership, and depth and quality from a defensive perspective will undoubtedly be on the transfer shortlist for Klopp ahead of next season with Champions League football potentially returning to Anfield which makes it even more necessary.