EFL chairman says Jurgen Klopp must consider dropping three Liverpool players

Liverpool prepare to face Tottenham Hotspur after Premier League defeats to Nottingham Forest and Leeds United.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. Picture: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty ImagesLiverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. Picture: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. Picture: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Liverpool need to make 'four or five great signings' in the next two transfer windows to stop their malaise running into next season.

That is the verdict of Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony speaking on his podcast The Hard Truth.

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The Reds have endured a stuttering start to the 2022-23 Premier League season. They sit ninth in the table, having taken just 16 points from 12 games and suffered back-to-back defeats to lowly Nottingham Forest and Leeds United.

Concerns are growing about whether Jurgen Klopp's side will finish in the top four this term. Plenty believe that Liverpool need to recruit both in the January transfer window and next summer - and MacAnthony is one of them.

But in the meantime, he believes that Klopp should consider shaking up his starting line-up, with Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho and Trent Alexander-Arnold among those who MacAnthony believes may be dropped.

The Irishman said: “Jurgen needs the time and money for a rebuild. If they get into the Champions League, it will be a miracle. The problem for Fenway [Sports Group] is it will backfire if they don't get into the Champions League, they will lose £100m in income. The team is looking old and needs a rebuild.

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“They need two, if not three centre-midfielders, they're going to need another forward. Yes, they've got [Luis] Diaz and [Diogo] Jota to come back but something is not quite right so you just back Jurgen through that. I don't care if they lose the next 10 games, you back him and give him the next two windows to build.

“They have to have two good windows, you can't waste it because if they wait for the summer to address it, they could still be out of the Champions League in the second year. They need to go big in January and the summer.

“He'll have the heart for that. What's been written about him and the seven-year stints, I think he wants to buck that trend. He has the heart for it, I'm not sure some of his players do.

“[Ibrahima] Konate needs to come in and stay fit. I wouldn't be against dropping Fabinho, I wouldn't be against dropping van Dijk. He needs to shake it up a bit. Too many players who are playing below their levels keep getting in the team.

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“I'm a big Trent fan but he's been way off. This kid they brought in from Scotland [Calvin Ramsay] that's meant to be his apprentice, let's get him fit and into the team, let's see what he's got.

“January, they have to go big and the summer they have to go big. These two windows are going to be so consequential. They have to make 4-5 great signings over the next two windows, reshape the squad and move on with from some players.

“[Joe} Gomez, for me, is not a top-class centre-half. Brilliant against Man City, mistake against Forest and the other night cost you two games against teams in the bottom three. Liverpool, of old, don't lose to teams in the bottom three - especially at Anfield.

“If they don't sign any players in January, it's malpractice, incompetence. Forget about this season, it's giving up on next season as well.”