Pat Nevin questions Jurgen Klopp about Liverpool FC transfers
The Chelsea legend questions why Liverpool FC didn't have an alternative to Virgil van Dijk last summer
Pat Nevin has questioned why Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp didn’t have a contingency plan in the event of Virgil van Dijk staying at Southampton in the summer transfer window.
The Reds targeted the Netherlands international early in the summer transfer window in an attempt to bolster their leaky defence for the new season.
However, Liverpool were unable to get a deal over the line for the Southampton captain despite the 26-year-old handing in a transfer request at St Mary’s.
The Merseyside club had to issue a statement apologising to Southampton for their pursuit of the 26-year-old in what was an embarrassing episode for Liverpool.
Klopp didn’t sign a centre-half in the summer as the Liverpool boss opted to stick with Dejan Lovren, Ragnar Klavan and Joel Matip for the 2017-18 season.
However, Liverpool have conceded 15 times in five games in the Premier League this season to raise serious questions about Klopp’s defenders.
The Reds lost 4-1 to top-four rivals Tottenham Hotspur last weekend to leave their hopes of a title challenge in tatters.
Former Chelsea winger Nevin questioned why Klopp didn’t have a second-choice centre-half to target after it became clear Southampton weren’t going to sell Van Dijk.
“We go back to Van Dijk. The fact that they put all their eggs in one basket,” Nevin told Irish radio station Newstalk.
“They clearly knew they needed a dominant centre-half. If they have a dominant centre-half, they could probably make do with the one alongside him. They didn’t get Van Dijk and where was plan B? There was no plan B.”
Liverpool are 12 points behind leaders Manchester City after nine games.
