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Danny Murphy has said that Liverpool need a top-quality defensive midfielder and a centre-back if they want to win the Premier League title this season. The No. 6 position is one that both Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot have tried to reinforce in the last year or so.
The German manager failed to sign Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia as the duo went to Chelsea last year, with the Reds settling for Wataru Endo. Many saw that as a place-holder signing before Liverpool went for a more reputed defensive midfielder.
Slot's side tried to sign Martin Zubimendi this summer but the player reportedly rejected a transfer to stay at Real Sociedad. Speaking about the Reds' title chances next season, Murphy brought up this apparent lack of strength in that area and said on TalkSPORT (via HITC):
"Well, the window’s not closed. And the reality is Liverpool’s transfer business over the last five-six years has been excellent. I expect them to be top four, but I don’t think they’ll overcome City.
"They can’t win it with this squad can they? I don’t think so. They’ll be better, of course they would. Significant new signings – yeah, I think a centre-half and a holding midfielder. When you look at the two best teams in the country last year with Rodri and [Declan] Rice, Liverpool don’t have that."
Apart from Endo (31), the Reds have 19-year-old Stefan Bajcetic as an option in that position, while Alexis Mac Allister can and has deputized in that role before.
Liverpool linked with a move for 23-year-old Bundesliga champion - Reports
Another position Danny Murphy feels Liverpool are lacking in is the centre-back area. As per CaughtOffside, Arne Slot is working towards strengthening that very area of the pitch by eyeing up a move for Bayer Leverkusen's Odilon Kossounou.
The Leverkusen defender, 23, is also apparently on Newcastle United and Crystal Palace's radars with two years still left on his contract. He played 22 league games last season as Xabi Alonso's team registered an invincible, title-winning Bundesliga campaign.
Currently, the Reds have Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, and Ibrahima Konate as their senior defenders. Jarell Quansah has also quickly made his way up the ranks, which would be a boost for Slot considering they lost Joel Matip this summer.
Kossounou, like Gomez, can also play right-back, which could mean another back-up for Trent Alexander-Arnold, especially in the event he plays as a central midfielder.
