The Premier League champions have been rocked by the news that Virgil van Dijk will miss the rest of the season due to a cruciate ligament injury and the spotlight is now on the club’s decision not to replace Dejan Lovren during the transfer window.

 

Liverpool sold Lovren to Zenit St. Petersburg, but did not sign another centre-back and are now relying on Joe Gomez and Matip to stay fit; they also sold centre-back Ki-Jana Hoever to Wolves.

 

 

Matip has suffered injury issues since he joined Liverpool and it has emerged the defender needed to go for a scan at the weekend.

 

It appears Matip does not have a serious issue, but Reds boss Jurgen Klopp will need to decide whether to play him in the Champions League this week.

 

 

Liverpool travel to the Netherlands to face Ajax on Wednesday, before they then host Sheffield United in the Premier League.

 

They have a total of six games before November’s international break and play Manchester City away on 7th November.

 

 

Liverpool could look to sign a new centre-back in January, but the jury is out on how their defence will cope without Van Dijk until the window opens.