Pundit Paul Merson has claimed that Liverpool will be forced to change their tactics moving forward because Joel Matip and Joe Gomez are 'not in the same class' as the injured Virgil van Dijk.
It is not clear at this stage how long Van Dijk will be out for because Liverpool are keeping the detail close to their chest, but it will be months before the Dutchman pulls on a Reds shirt again.
In the meantime, Matip, Gomez and Fabinho are likely to fill those slots most regularly, with Rhys Williams, who made his Champions League bow on Wednesday night against Ajax, also a contender when required.
And Merson says that means that Liverpool will need to alter their style of play, as they need to compensate for losing such a key component of their team.
He told the Daily Star that Jurgen Klopp will have no choice but to make changes over the course of the time that Van Dijk is missing.
Merson said: "They are going to have to adjust how they attack because before they would press so aggressively and sometimes leave themselves two-on-two at the back.
"That’s okay when you’ve got Van Dijk but Joe Gomez and Joel Matip aren’t in the same class. I would play Fabinho ahead of both of them but even then it’s not the same.
"They should go and get a defender in January - and not just a cheap one who can fill in, but someone who can play alongside Van Dijk when he comes back."
Liverpool face Sheffield United this evening, with Matip in contention to return to action after missing the Champions League clash in Amsterdam with a slight knock.
The Cameroonian's injury record is a concern for Liverpool over the next few weeks, though they chose to move into the new season with only three senior central defensive options.
Ahead of the January window, Liverpool certainly have a decision to make, with the likes of Dayot Upamecano players who have been linked with moves, but until then, Klopp must go with what he has.
