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Liverpool Must Make Defensive Signings in January

Four wins on the spin have changed the temperature around Merseyside as the champions of England start to remember who they are. The table suddenly looks friendlier, the mood less toxic, and the conversation has shifted from survival to sustainability. But let’s not kid ourselves. This run, welcome as it is, doesn’t erase the structural problems that defined the first half of the season. It merely masks them and the head coach, Arne Slot, will now spend the remainder of the season trying to prove his executives thst he is the long term option.

The summer spending spree was never about fine-tuning an already complete machine. It was the first step in dragging Liverpool away from Klopp-ball and into something new, something Slot could call his own. That transition was always going to be messy and a little problematic. Simmering chaos and desire was replaced with control, emotion with structure, as the result was a side that often looked unsure of what it wanted to be. The attacking talent arrived in abundance, but the foundations were left exposed and Trent Alexander Arnold was never replaced.

What we’re seeing now is a workaround rather than a solution. Packing the midfield with bodies, slowing games down, and protecting space in front of the defence has helped steady the ship. But it’s also an admission that the backline cannot currently be trusted to defend open space, win second balls consistently, or manage physical pressure without help.

That’s not sustainable across a full season, especially in the Premier League. The current improvement is being driven by caution, not confidence. If Liverpool want this revival to last beyond a short winter surge, the next phase of regeneration must be focused squarely on the defence, as well as the shield in front.

January Must Be About Steel, Not Style

The upcoming January window is not about luxury signings or marginal upgrades. It’s about survival mechanics without a disjointed system. Liverpool concede chances far too easily when the game state shifts. They struggle when pressed aggressively, falter when defending crosses, and too often rely on last-ditch interventions rather than proactive control to keep the clean sheet. That is not an attacking problem. It is a defensive one that was never addressed in the summer.

At centre-back, the lack of depth and variety is glaring. There is no reliable rotation option who brings calm distribution and aerial authority together. Injuries, form dips, or simple fatigue expose how thin that department really is. One centre-half is not enough, yet may have to be accepted and not ignored. Two would be ideal. At least one must be dominant in duels, comfortable defending space, and capable of organising others around him. The other should offer composure, progression, and intelligence under pressure, yet the idea of attaining both seems far fetched considering there may well be a summer management change.

Equally important is the absence of a true defensive midfielder. Liverpool’s current midfield setup works because it compensates for this gap through numbers and work rate. But that comes at a cost and taken away dynamic transition. Creative players are shackled, runners are overworked, and the team becomes reactive rather than assertive. A specialist defensive midfielder would change everything and release assets to explore the pitch. He would allow the midfield to breathe, the full-backs to advance with confidence, and the centre-backs to defend with clarity rather than panic. A split of those two titans would allow a more efficient shield and coverage, rather than asking Kerkez to sit deep or any of the 8’s to screen.

This isn’t about abandoning the new philosophy. It’s about enabling it and refining it. Control football only works when the spine is secure, regardless of high possession of the ball. Right now, Liverpool are controlling games by avoiding risk, not by imposing themselves. That distinction matters and is not whst the money spent for.

The signs are encouraging, but they are fragile at best, especially amid a fairly easy run of fixtures. Another injury, another run of physical opponents, another dip in confidence, and the cracks will reopen. January is the moment to prevent that. Not to chase perfection, but to add resilience.

This is the second phase of regeneration. The summer was about changing the identity. The winter must be about protecting it. If Liverpool want to stop firefighting and start building again, the backline is where it has to begin.

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