“I don’t understand,” Jurgen Klopp told reporters after Liverpool arrived in Bangkok for their pre-season tour.
“People have told me about this discussion, but the last thing on my mind is that we have to sign another midfielder.
“We can get through this. Where do you want to start? So Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago, Milner, Keita, Jones, Elliott, Carvalho, Oxlade-Chamberlain – now tell me what player are we missing?’
There is no doubt that the Liverpool manager remains steadfast in his stance that the Reds do not need to sign a midfielder this summer.
Thiago Alcantara’s hamstring injury has left Liverpool with just five options for ready-made senior midfielders
Jurgen Klopp has insisted all summer that the Reds do not need to bring in an additional midfielder
The injury crisis is likely to provide opportunities for Harvey Elliott, who has signed a new contract
However, after an inauspicious 2-2 draw with Fulham on the opening day and a pile-up of injuries, the debate has only intensified as Klopp is now left with just five senior fit midfielders to turn to and faces pressure to dip into the transfer market.
Liverpool fans dreaded the sight of Thiago Alcantara limping off during the second half at Craven Cottage. It was later announced that the Spaniard would miss six weeks with a hamstring strain.
Coupled with Curtis Jones’ calf injury and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s injured hamstring, Klopp’s midfield is extremely depleted.
There are serious questions as to whether the German can afford to stick to his principles that he does not need to add more depth in the center of the pitch.
Rumors continue to rise that Liverpool have been cut short ahead of another grueling campaign.
Klopp’s senior midfield options are now Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, James Milner, Keita and Harvey Elliott. Fabio Carvalho is a potential alternative but is seen by Klopp as more of an attacking player, as demonstrated by the Portugal Under-21 international who replaced Luis Diaz up front at Craven Cottage.
The loss of Thiago is significant as the Spaniard was tremendous when fit last season and was rightly named in the PFA Team of the Year.
Henderson will need to step up even more in his absence, but now 32, the former Sunderland man is perhaps just past his best. Similarly, Milner’s durability never fails to impress, but it’s hard to count on someone who will turn 37 this campaign.
Keita, who missed the clash with Fulham through illness but is expected to return for Monday’s game against Crystal Palace, flattered to deceive while at Anfield and struggled for consistency and fitness.
Both Curtis Jones (calf) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (hamstring) are currently injured
Jordan Henderson struggled on Saturday and will need to step up in Thiago’s absence
Elliott, who signed a new long-term contract on Thursday, is a hugely exciting prospect at 19 and continues to impress but, like Milner, it is difficult to rely on a midfielder early or late in his career.
Despite Saturday’s poor performance, Fabinho has immense quality and the Brazilian is the only option of the five who can be considered to be at the peak of their careers.
The pressure is on after Saturday, which already looks disastrous after Man City looked so impressive against West Ham.
It was draws like this that cost the Reds last season and saw them miss out on the title by just a point.
The Reds struggled after the starting midfielder performed so poorly, with Fabinho, Thiago and Henderson losing the ball 22 times on Saturday, with Fabinho booked for less than an hour.
The Reds hope Naby Keita will be back for the clash with Crystal Palace after he missed Saturday’s clash
There is also a strong case to be made that a new midfielder is needed, not only because of injuries but also as part of Liverpool’s succession plans.
Oxlade-Chamberlain and Milner are out of contract at the end of the season, with the pair likely to leave, while Keita is yet to extend his contract, which also expires next summer.
The potential to lose three midfielders at once is far from ideal and calls for the Reds to add one option this summer and then their preferred target, Jude Bellingham, next year.
The Bellingham angle is an interesting one as it has been widely reported that the Reds will not make a move for the midfielder this year as they wait for the Borussia Dortmund star to become available in 2023.
Liverpool are favorites to sign the England midfielder next summer, but any potential move in this window was always unlikely with Dortmund already missing out on Erling Haaland.
Klopp will have to juggle his midfield options ahead of the grueling World Cup build-up
But the interest in Bellingham and Aurelien Chouameni, the latter of whom signed for Real Madrid after the Reds missed out, shows there is recognition of the need to add a midfielder.
And while they wait for exactly who they want to have worked for the club before with Virgil van Dijk and Alisson the most notable examples, the remaining options combined with an extremely intense start to the season ahead of the World Cup means the risk of not adding someone is high.
Tyler Morton and Leighton Clarkson, two of Anfield’s most promising young midfielders, are also on loan this season at Blackburn Rovers and Aberdeen respectively.
While this is undoubtedly best for their long-term development, having both youngsters would add to Klopp’s limited options at the moment.
Stefan Bajcetic has impressed in pre-season and appeared on the bench on Saturday after being rewarded with a new long-term deal.
But at just 17, it’s a huge step forward towards competitive Premier League encounters.
Summer signing Calvin Ramsey can also play in midfield, but a 19-year-old right-back out of position is not the best option for a side with top-four ambitions.
However, one could say that this injury crisis is what the squad is for and that eight options in midfield when everyone is fully fit is excessive.
It’s also easy to forget all about Thiago’s undoubted class, the playmaker has dealt with injuries at the club before – the Spaniard played just 25 of 38 league games last season.
Liverpool are reportedly waiting until next summer to make a move for Jude Bellingham
Similarly, Oxlade-Chamberlain barely featured in 2021-22, with his last league appearance coming in February, despite being fit for the end of the season when he regularly failed to make the matchday squad.
Elliott and Carvalho now also have the perfect opportunity to develop and contribute, and a new midfielder would potentially hinder their development.
Klopp’s mind may also be the time when the Reds had an even worse injury crisis, this time in defence, and panic bought Ben Davies and Ozan Kabak in January 2021.
And the German, speaking after the game on Saturday, confirmed the bigger picture when the signings are lined up.
He said: “Look, the transfer has to make sense now and in the long term; we have eight midfielders, we still have enough midfielders.
Thiago has been excellent since joining the Reds in 2020 but has had injury problems at Anfield
“It’s not that we lack midfielders, it’s just that some of them are injured.
And I know that part of the football business is not nervous. We are not. But this is not a good situation, I don’t like it at all.
“We have to see how we react to that – but certainly without panicking.”
The lack of midfielders could also allow Klopp to be more adaptable.
The 4-2-3-1 formation has been tried on occasion and to ease the pressure on his depleted reserves is something the Reds could play again.
This could suit players like Roberto Firmino, Elliott and especially Carvalho.
The former Fulham youngster excelled in such a role last season with 18 goals as the Cottagers lifted the Championship title.
Klopp’s side were interested in Aurelien Chuameni before he joined Real Madrid this summer
However, there is no doubt that the severely depleted midfield options at Klopp’s disposal are extremely worrying.
With the Reds facing a grueling schedule that will see them play 16 Premier League games, six Champions League group games and a Carabao Cup game just three months before the World Cup, there is a strong case to be made for Klopp taking over huge risk not signing someone.
But the German has more than enough credit in the bank and will be hoping his remaining options fill the void, while desperately encouraging his medical team to help injured players recover as quickly as possible.
However, the Liverpool manager will have to come to terms with his decision – even if it risks the Reds falling behind in the title race.
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