Jurgen Klopp desperate to land new centre-back as Joe Gomez adds to defensive crisis
German boss has lost three defenders this window... but new boy Joel Matip promises to be leader at the back
JURGEN KLOPP’S centre-back hunt has shot to the top of his to-do list thanks to a defensive crisis at Anfield.
The Liverpool chief will start the new season without THREE of the men who were around last year.
Martin Skrtel is heading to Turkey to join Fenerbahce to get regular first team football, while veteran Kolo Toure was released at the end of his contract.
Mamadou Sakho could be out for the first month, as he is still struggling with the Achilles injury which dogged him before his drugs ban – a suspension recently lifted.
And now bright young stopper has joined them on the crocked list, after also damaging an Achilles early in his return to pre-season training.
The news about Gomez in particular is a bitterly disappointing blow, as Kop coaches hold high hopes that the teenager will go right to the top.
Gomez, 19, was a £3.5 million capture from Charlton a year ago, but had already made such an impression that he had nailed down a first team slot.
Yet he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury on England Under 21 duty in October which ended his season.
Now Klopp will make a concerted effort to bring in defensive back-up, to give his backline some depth ahead of next month’s big kick-off.
The one spot of good news has been the arrival of Cameroon international Joel Matip, and his return to fitness after having screws removed from an old foot injury.
He was signed on a free from Schalke in January, and played out his Bundesliga contract over the rest of last season.
And Matip, 24, is convinced he can provide the leader at the back which Liverpool have lacked ever since Jamie Carragher retired.
He insisted: “I want that pressure - it’s the reason why I came here. I think I am good enough and will show this.
“I think it’s something I will have to grow into but I am also sure I have the ability for that position and from the way I approach to the game.
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“The Premier League is much more physical and I will have to adapt a little bit because the style of play is a little different.
“But I have enough self confidence to say that I am good enough for it. I came here to play against the best in order to become better.
“That was my thinking, my choice and I’m really looking forward to it. I came here to play, I want to play straight away, and I think I am good enough.”