Jamie O'Hara insists Liverpool's current midfield options are a 'problem' and will cost Jurgen Klopp's side their chances of winning the Premier League title if they continue to rely on them.
On Friday morning the Liverpool manager confirmed that Thiago Alcantara would be out of action for at least four weeks, but also insisted he would not be dipping into the transfer market for a stop-gap solution, stating that the Reds would only sign "the right player, not a player".
However, O'Hara, who played in the Premier League for Tottenham, Wolves and Portsmouth, believes that Liverpool's ageing midfield, and lack of reinforcements, could see them unsuccessful in their bid for a second Premier League title in four seasons.
READ MORE: Liverpool sold France U20 captain who was angered by return rumours and built 'nuclear' business
READ MORE: Liverpool signing who was a 'disgrace' in training disrupted sessions and angered team-mates
“There’s a little bit of a concern around Liverpool at the minute with the amount of injuries they pick up to players like Thiago Alcantara,” O’Hara said, speaking to Grosvenor Sport. “If Fabinho was to get injured as well, they’ve only really got Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Harvey Elliott to play in midfield.
“Three or four years ago that was an unbelievable midfield because they’d give you everything but a few of those are just starting to come to the end of their careers in the Liverpool squad and become bit-part players. If you’re relying on them to win the league, with Thiago keeping on getting injured, you’ve got a problem."
On Thursday afternoon, Liverpool heightened their commitment to youth as 19-year-old Harvey Elliott was handed a new five-year contract at Anfield, but the former Tottenham midfielder believes they still need further, younger additions in their ranks to compete with Manchester City this campaign.
“They should have gone all out to sign Jude Bellingham," added O'Hara. "I know they were maybe waiting until next year to get him at the right price, but they need him now. You have to continue to keep on winning trophies. They’ve seen everyone else improve. I think they need a midfielder like Bellingham. If they bring him in then they’re back. Until then I think they might struggle in midfield and to win the title.”
Despite Liverpool's interest in the former Birmingham City scholar, it is believed that the German outfit are unwilling to depart with Bellingham this summer just months after losing Erling Haaland to Manchester City. Haaland's to the Premier League, of course, came a year after former Dortmund star Jadon Sancho moved to Manchester United - making it all the more understandable why manager Edin Terzic is reluctant to lose another one of the club's big stars in quick succession.
READ NEXT
