Graeme Souness: What Jurgen Klopp needs to sign for Liverpool

Graeme Souness says Jurgen Klopp needs to address Liverpool’s leaky defence and their inability to score goals in the January transfer window.

The Reds set up a FA Cup fourth-round meeting with West Ham United at Anfield on 29 January after a 3-0 victory over Exeter City on Wednesday night.

There are several areas he needs to strengthen

Graeme Souness

Liverpool are reportedly preparing an offer of £25m for Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Alex Teixeira as Klopp looks to bolster his attacking options.

The Reds have also been linked with Borussia Dortmund defender Neven Subotic and Schalke 04 defensive midfielder Joel Matip.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Sounness discusses the areas of his Liverpool squad that Klopp urgently needs to address this month.

“He needs better players. As a coach or manager, there is no magic wand. The best teams have the best players,” Souness said.

“The biggest part of his job will be to recruit the best players. He knows the German market inside out, that’s where his contacts will be, and I expect German players to follow.

“There are several areas he needs to strengthen. They lead bad goals which can hamper confidence throughout the team.

“The other thing is getting someone who can score lots of goals.”

Souness continued: “For me, if Liverpool were going to get into the top four, Benteke needed to get 30 goals a season – that’s not going to happen. They don’t have a free-scoring midfield behind them.”

Liverpool are in ninth place in the Premier League table and eight points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

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The Reds make the trip to newly-promoted side Norwich City in the Premier League at Carrow Road in Saturday’s early kick-off.