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Publication Date: Saturday, October 24, 2020 10:05 AM
Paul Merson has urged Liverpool to bring in a long-term partner for Virgil van Dijk and not a “cheap” transfer to “replace”.
The Premier League champions will be left without their central defender talisman for a long period afterward. injured an anterior cruciate ligament during the Merseyside derby.
Van Dijk requires knee surgery after Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford hit him last weekend.
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Liverpool have already been linked to several centrals while rumors spread that they could cover the January transfer window.
Merson told the Daily star: “I think the Liverpool players need to get together now and show that they can cope. If they start to lose matches, people will accuse them of being a one-man team.
“Van Dijk is the best defender in the industry. But if you want to be one of the best teams in the world, you have to be able to show that you can get by without a player.
“They will have to adjust the way they attack because before they would push so aggressively and sometimes two versus two would be left behind.
“It’s okay when you have Van Dijk, but Joe Gomez and Joel Matip are not in the same class. I would play with Fabinho ahead of both of them, but it’s still not the same.
“They should go find a defender in January and not just a cheap one who can replace him, but someone who can play alongside Van Dijk when he comes back.”
Will Chelsea fall into Manchester United’s trap again at Old Trafford? And is Virgil van Dijk really as big of a loss for Liverpool as has been claimed? Winty and Mark discuss what is sure to be a great weekend.
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