Reds legend Carragher offers unlikely solution to Liverpool’s centre-back crisis Jamie Carragher has joked that Liverpool’s injury problems in defence are that bad that even he could be drafted in to fill the gap at centre-back. Liverpool are still reeling from the serious knee suffered by Virgil van Dijk. The Reds are almost resigned to losing the hugely influential Dutchman for the rest of the season. Joel Matip is currently unavailable and has a history of missing games with knocks. And Jurgen Klopp’s worst nightmare came true when stand-in Fabinho had to be taken off with a hamstring problem in Tuesday night’s 2-0 Champions League win over FC Midtjylland. The Brazilian has done an excellent job since converting from his holding midfield role. And there was a feeling that Fabinho’s ability to adapt would stop the Reds having to go into the transfer market in January. The temporary solution on Tuesday was to bring teenager Rhys Williams off the bench. And while the 19-year-old gave a composed performance, it’s asking a lot for him to become a first-team regular. Especially with Liverpool’s fixture list piling up over the next few months. Midfield duo Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnadlum have also been used at the back before. But, again, that would be an uncertain fix and, as with Fabinho, it depletes the champions’ midfield options. Carragher is one of Liverpool’s greatest centre-backs having played 737 games for the club. The last of those came in 2013. And, with that in mind, it prompted the inevitable cheeky question during his punditry stint for Champions League on CBS Sports. “Might you end up getting the call-up?” the host presenter asked the Anfield legend with tongue in cheek. “Well, the way it’s looking, well, there could be half a chance,” laughed Carragher. “At this moment, there is no-one in TV who talks a better game than me. If I was as good as that, I might do alright!” Gomez stepping up after recent struggles Fabinho’s injury leaves Joe Gomez as Liverpool’s only fit centre-back. But the good news there, at least, is that the England defender seems to be rising to the challenge. The Liverpool Echo gave him an 8 out of 10 in their player ratings on Tuesday. And that was second only to right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. The Echo’s Ian Doyle said of Gomez: “Won some good headers early on and wasn’t intimidated by the Midtjylland attack. Revelled in the extra responsibility at the back once Fabinho departed.” Gomez was substituted after an abject display in Liverpool’s humiliating 7-2 defeat at Aston Villa. But since then, the 23-year-old has started to return to some of his best form again. The post Reds legend Carragher offers unlikely solution to Liverpool’s centre-back crisis appeared first on teamtalk.com.

Jamie Carragher has joked that Liverpool’s injury problems in defence are that bad that even he could be drafted in to fill the gap at centre-back.

Liverpool are still reeling from the serious knee suffered by Virgil van Dijk. The Reds are almost resigned to losing the hugely influential Dutchman for the rest of the season.

Joel Matip is currently unavailable and has a history of missing games with knocks.

And Jurgen Klopp’s worst nightmare came true when stand-in Fabinho had to be taken off with a hamstring problem in Tuesday night’s 2-0 Champions League win over  FC Midtjylland.

The Brazilian has done an excellent job since converting from his holding midfield role. And there was a feeling that Fabinho’s ability to adapt would stop the Reds having to go into the transfer market in January.

The temporary solution on Tuesday was to bring teenager Rhys Williams off the bench. And while the 19-year-old gave a composed performance, it’s asking a lot for him to become a first-team regular. Especially with Liverpool’s fixture list piling up over the next few months.

Midfield duo Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnadlum have also been used at the back before. But, again, that would be an uncertain fix and, as with Fabinho, it depletes the champions’ midfield options.

Carragher is one of Liverpool’s greatest centre-backs having played 737 games for the club. The last of those came in 2013.

And, with that in mind, it prompted the inevitable cheeky question during his punditry stint for Champions League on CBS Sports.

“Might you end up getting the call-up?” the host presenter asked the Anfield legend with tongue in cheek.

“Well, the way it’s looking, well, there could be half a chance,” laughed Carragher. “At this moment, there is no-one in TV who talks a better game than me. If I was as good as that, I might do alright!”

Gomez stepping up after recent struggles

Fabinho’s injury leaves Joe Gomez as Liverpool’s only fit centre-back.

But the good news there, at least, is that the England defender seems to be rising to the challenge.

The Liverpool Echo gave him an 8 out of 10 in their player ratings on Tuesday. And that was second only to right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The Echo’s Ian Doyle said of Gomez: “Won some good headers early on and wasn’t intimidated by the Midtjylland attack. Revelled in the extra responsibility at the back once Fabinho departed.”

Gomez was substituted after an abject display in Liverpool’s humiliating 7-2 defeat at Aston Villa.

But since then, the 23-year-old has started to return to some of his best form again.

The post Reds legend Carragher offers unlikely solution to Liverpool’s centre-back crisis appeared first on teamtalk.com.

Dave Tindall