Jamie Carragher suggests Liverpool need to sign a player to do what Van Dijk ‘never does’

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Jamie Carragher has urged Liverpool to sign a left-footed centre-back during the summer transfer window.

The Reds appear to be in the market for a central defender, with left-footer Micky van de Ven the current front-runner. And according to Carragher, Jurgen Klopp could do with a naturally left-sided player to step into the ball, something right-footer Virgil van Dijk ‘never does’ right now.

“I do think we need a left-sided defender, like a left-footed centre-back,” Carragher told RedmenTV. “I think a lot of teams have them, we don’t. Van Dijk’s fine on the left, but even Van Dijk, he’s such a great passer of the ball and he switches play amazing. When you actually watch us play when the ball’s getting switched across the back four, when it comes to Virgil, as it would do with any right-footed centre-back on the left, a lot of the time it goes back rather than stepping in.

“So a lot of the time with Liverpool, whether it’s Konate or Matip mainly, on that right side, they haven’t got the long switch that Virgil’s got, so what they do is they step in and go on a little run, Matip is brilliant at it. But Virgil never does it on his side because he’s on his weaker foot.

“I think having a left-sided player, whether Virgil’s out or playing on the right at times, would just add something, to step in at different times. So, if we’re bringing a centre-back in I’d like to see them have a left foot.

Liverpool searching for left-footer

Luckily for Carragher, it looks as though his prayers will be answered this summer. It’s been well documented that Liverpool are indeed searching for a left-footed centre-back to add to the squad.

Quite what that means for Van Dijk though, isn’t especially clear.

Given his status in the Liverpool team and within the world of football generally, you’d imagine he’s still very much first choice for Klopp. With James Milner leaving, Virgil will be the full-time vice-captain.

It’s also pretty clear that Ibrahima Konate is Klopp’s preferred partner for the Dutchman. As a result, you wouldn’t imagine the manager would be looking to move Van Dijk to the right side to accommodate a new signing.

So, that leaves two scenarios. The most likely, we think, is that the new man would be brought in as a potential successor to Virgil. Someone to take over from him over the next two or three years.

The second one is that Klopp is brewing a change in formation. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s shift in role has also led to changes for Konate next to him and Andy Robertson at left-back. This could mean that Liverpool are looking for a specialist in the left-back/left-side centre-back role.

We think that’s a long-shot. Although if someone is brought in, it at least gives the Reds the option to do something different. Let’s see who, if anyone, ends up coming in.