27 August 2023 , 19:46
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Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool need to sign a defender and another midfielder before next week's transfer deadline if they are to compete for the title this year.
The Reds headed into the summer transfer window needing to rebuild their beleaguered engine room and have already completed deals for Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo. However, Jurgen Klopp remains light on options after losing the services of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, who were both lured to the Saudi Pro League.
Liverpool's new look midfield trio started together for the first time in Sunday's dramatic 2-1 win over Newcastle, where a late Darwin Nunez double sealed an unlikely victory after Virgil van Dijk saw red in the first half.
Carragher, though, is adamant that the current playing squad will not be enough to challenge for the title and has urged the Anfield hierarchy to back Klopp in the transfer market before September 1.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Carragher said: "Liverpool have been Manchester City's biggest rivals for the last four or five years, and Arsenal came to the fore last season. But why can't Liverpool be that team again this season?
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"The squad that Liverpool have right now isn't good enough to challenge Manchester City, but they've got to go for it in the transfer market this week in terms of bringing in another defender and midfielder. That has to happen because Liverpool can still be the biggest rivals to Manchester City.
Join the debate! Where do you think Liverpool need to strengthen before September 1? Let us know here.
Klopp is believed to be after further reinforcements in defence and midfield (Getty Images)"They've made a decent start to the season, but when you've got someone like Alisson - a world-class goalkeeper, maybe the best goalkeeper in the world - Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah, these are players who are not coming to the end of their careers but are at that stage where if Liverpool are going to go on to do something big again, it has to happen in the next year or two.
"So really go for it in the last week of the transfer window to get a squad that is good enough to challenge Manchester City."
While it remains to be seen if Liverpool will do further business before next weekend, it has previously been reported that Klopp is keen to strengthen further in midfield and is also open to signing a central defender.
The Reds will now be forced to cope without Van Dijk for their next Premier League fixture after the Dutchman's red card against the Magpies.