- McManaman says Liverpool still need four more signings to compete for PL title
- Former Reds star outlines which areas need to be strengthened
- Liverpool in poor form and lost Coutinho, questions starting to be raised
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Liverpool have endured a mini slump over the past week, and for former star Steve McManaman, it has raised concerns that the squad needs work done to it still.
Back-to-back defeats to Swansea City and West Bromwich Albion have ended their impressive unbeaten run and seen the Reds crash out of the FA Cup.
Combine that with the loss of one of their best players in Philippe Coutinho who joined Barcelona at the start of the month, there are fair grounds for concern at Anfield.
That’s reflected in McManaman’s analysis of Jurgen Klopp’s current squad, as he believes that they’re still a few signings away from being considered legitimate contenders for the Premier League title.
The signing of Virgil van Dijk was crucial as they have the worst defensive record in the top five having conceded 29 goals in 24 league games, but for club hero McManaman who knows a thing or two about playing for Liverpool having spent nine years in the senior side, he is adamant they need more.
“Personally I’d like them to bring in another defender, probably another goalkeeper, and I’d like them to buy a centre-forward,” he is quoted as saying by FourFourTwo. “I’d like to see a top-class centre-forward who you know will get 20 or 30 goals a season.
“I’d also like them to bring in some widemen just to change the play a little bit because I don’t think they have that.”
That’s quite the shopping list, and it’s a mixed bag in terms of agreeing with him. With Klopp flip-flopping between Loris Karius and Simon Mignolet, a long-term goalkeeping solution would be a sensible idea.
With regards to the other areas he mentions though, they will surely have to be the right targets to improve on what they’ve already got with the likes of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.
Although a different option and more prolific one at that to Roberto Firmino would be useful with Daniel Sturridge leaving the club on loan this week.