The intriguing comments Virgil van Dijk made after Liverpool moved one big step closer to Premier League glory on Sunday certainly got Jamie Carragher thinking.
Van Dijk scored a dramatic late winner against West Ham at Anfield, extending the gap between first and second-place Arsenal to thirteen points
But Liverpool, the captain says, should not be resting on their laurels. Stand still, he says, and risk surrendering their advantage in the years to come.
Lest we forget, The Reds fell from first to third after claiming their previous Premier League crown in 2020. An admittedly injury-hit campaign saw Jurgen Klopp’s side finish a staggering 30 points adrift of the previous season.
Jamie Carragher is praying he does not live to see history repeat itself half a decade later
Jamie Carragher says Liverpool should replace Andy Robertson with a new left-back
The former Liverpool defender agrees with Van Dijk’s assessment that this is a team that can ‘100 per cent improve’. This summer, Van Dijk says, ‘should be a big one’.
If that means there are up to six new additions – and a couple of loyal servants gradually phased out – then so be it.
“He was talking about it being a big summer for Liverpool,” Carragher reflects. “Now, he wouldn’t say that if he didn’t have an inkling of it being a big summer
“It’s not just about money, its about what Liverpool are going to look like over the next few years and are Liverpool going to win these big trophies?
“The manager Arne Slot has seen the squad now. That was one of the big reasons why they didn’t go into the market last summer, because a lot of the players came back late from the European Championships.
“They are going to be Premier League champions but there are still areas of that squad that need sort of improving. I think left-back is one
Carragher saw Andy Robertson bundle the ball into Liverpool’s net last time out against The Hammers. The latest high-profile error from a long-serving Scot who also gifted Fulham a goal the previous weekend at Craven Cottage.
Carragher believes Liverpool should step up their interest in Milos Kerkez at Bournemouth. A younger, fitter, faster footballer ten years Robertson’s junior.
“Andy Robertson has been one of the great left-backs for Liverpool but he needs help there,” the 2005 Champions League winner adds. “He could sort of play the role as back-up, which he would still be playing 20, 25 games a season.
“I think a first-choice left-back [is needed].”
Liverpool may need a more prolific midfieldre than Dominik Szoboszlai
There may also be room at Anfield for an all-action, box-crashing central midfielder with a Steven Gerrard-esque knack for sticking the ball in the back of the opposition net.
Dominik Szoboszlai is arguably the closest thing Liverpool currently have to a modern-day Gerrard-type figure. But with five goals to his name, there is certainly space for plenty of improvement.
“I still think Liverpool lack something going forward from midfield. Szoboszlai does a good job. He’s got a good engine. But I think they can definitely get someone in there who can score more goals,” Carragher explains
“I then think you need two or three more players in the squad. One of those would be a centre-back, the other would be a central midfielder, and one of them I think will be a left winger.
“I still think they need to bring in six players.”
In terms of centre-backs, Liverpool have reportedly talked with Dean Huijsen’s camp this month. The Bournemouth teenager has a £50 million release clause in his contract