Brendan Rodgers admits Liverpool may need to bring in
defensive reinforcements this summer.
While the Reds have strengthened in midfield and attack
since Rodgers arrived at the club last summer, the squad has been well stocked
with defensive quality.
However, the retirement of Jamie Carragher at the end of the
season means the Liverpool manager may look to enter the transfer market.
He told reporters at his pre-Villa press conference:
"We're going to be light in that area. We have to assess it between now
and the end of the season.
"That's the one area of the field where we haven't
brought anyone in. We've brought midfield players and front players into the
group, but as of yet there has been no one in that area.
"We're going to lose Jamie, which is a big loss. There
is no player that is irreplaceable but he's a big loss.
"You see his experience and how he leads the line, and
when you're playing as a defender you need someone who is vocal in there who
can organise the line. He does that remarkably well.
"But I've also got really good players here. Daniel
Agger and Martin Skrtel - we've got some really, really good players.
"Between now and the end of the season we know we need
to strengthen the group and that's something we'll look at doing.
"If it's not something we've got in the group we may
need that kind of character, who can organise and lead. That's something we'll
have a look at."
While Carragher spent much of the first half of the season
on the bench, he returned to the starting 11 in the Barclays Premier League
against Norwich in January and has remained there since.
An injury kept him out of our defeat to Southampton but he
is set to return this weekend.
Rodgers was pressed by reporters on exactly how big a loss
the 35-year-old would be when he finally called it a day.
"I will miss him," he said. "He's a good man
and a lover of football. He puts everything into his training every day. He's a
real role model for all the players - young and senior players.
"He's got eight games left and let's not write him off
yet. He's still fit and strong. We missed his leadership qualities at
Southampton and he'll come back into the squad for the weekend."
With eight games remaining, Liverpool still have a chance to
qualify for Europe next season - but even if that doesn't happen, Rodgers is
confident he can attract quality players to the club.
"Whether we're in Europe or not we're going to be able
to attract good players here," he added. "Of course, [Europe] is
where we'd like to be, but if it isn't to be I still believe we'll be able to
bring in players who'll improve us.
"That's the challenge now: to bring those types in over
the next months."
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