Carragher slams Liverpool over ‘preposterous’ transfer decision
Jamie Carragher thinks the decision not to have a new centre-back in place for January 1 was a huge mistake by the Liverpool hierarchy.
The transfer window is now open and the Reds look no closer to bringing in a defender despite their injury troubles at the back.
Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez have suffered long-term injuries, while Joel Matip has been in and out of their side, with Fabinho now a regular a centre-back and Jordan Henderson also being used there on occasion.
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Jurgen Klopp said early on in the window that bringing in a new player could make “no sense” to Liverpool but Carragher insists that they must if they have any chance of retaining the Premier League title.
“I believe the club’s response should have been activated on October 19, the day Virgil van Dijk’s cruciate knee operation was confirmed,” Carragher wrote in the Daily Telegraph.
“Hindsight is unnecessary. I said then I did not think Liverpool could win the league unless they had a new centre-back in place on January 1. They needed one before Joe Gomez was injured. His and Joel Matip’s appearance record was informative of that.
“Frankly, it is preposterous that three months on and with the transfer window now open, Klopp felt compelled to use Jordan Henderson in the position against Manchester United.
“And although Fabinho has been outstanding, he would be more influential in midfield. It has caused a chain reaction throughout the team.
“I believe this time the club needed to react in the transfer market to ensure these most trying of times do not undermine Liverpool’s upward trajectory.
“I said in the summer successful teams need refreshing from a position of strength, and the club bought Thiago and Jota.
“Now, because of injuries, a response was needed to address a visible and serious area of weakness. That requires players good enough to start the biggest games, not to step in and do a job occasionally. To be more specific, it demanded a new centre-back.”