KopTalk.com Forums Football Liverpool FC Forum Keep Skrtel as backup, or who comes in, in place?

I've seen a lot of names mentioned as our defensive reinforcement next season. Thought it's worth to gather thoughts at this time as we've recently seen hummels sign for munich so that pipe dream of klopp bringing back that leader is gone.

Is Skrtel suitable backup? he seems to turn up for the big games this season it's worth reminding against spurs in klopps first game in charge, city away, and he put in arguably his best display against watford a match ago, but overall he's had a poor season.

Our central defence looked settled before sakho's suspension, and although our 35 year old kolo Toure has covered very well, we could use this window as a chance to improve, rather than just sustain. So whoever we add to Lovren, Sakho, Matip, they could end up as our 2nd/3rd/4th or even 1st choice centre back potentially.

Sakho has been used as a ball-playing centre back this season, and although lovren had a shaky start to the season where carra said he just should focus on getting the basics right, he has done just that, lovren has been better a central/limited defender and shown good leadership, yet still is sakho a better leader than him? thinking back to the man utd away performance there could be a case (albeit he was on dope).

Are players like Tah or Okore what we should be going for? subotic, dann? Btw discussion is going to be as helpful as just names

Skrtel is hopeless, always had been. Don't understand how he's still here, the amount of times he's lost its games is crazy. Imagine him playing with Lovren again, I dread the thought. Two headless chickens comes to mind.

Is go for Tah, brilliant young defender. Got loads of talent. Him and Gomez could be our centre back peering for a decade.

yes haha not a good partnership, taken apart at swansea, aerially we were totally exposed.

Tah not the best passer, but perhaps fantastic for a pressing game bearing in mind how many interceptions he makes. So Tah on the right of central defence, Gomez on the left for you?

interesting, where would lovren and sakho go though? you'd sell at least one of them, lovren I imagine? it works because matip is left sided so if tah got injured he and sakho even could perhaps partner each other, not sure if sakho would accept non first team football in place of gomez

He was awful in his debut against havant and Waterlooville

He has yet to improve. He can give away at least 2 pens every game.

Just a terrible defender. I don't k ow how he has been here for so long

Get rid,rather have Kolo as back up.

Everything is dependant on how long Sakho is out. He is without a doubt the best CB we j have, and he's a natural leader too which is priceless. I'd go for Sakho and Tah in the middle for a while and let Gomez play cups and some prem games as CB and some at LB, just to get on his feet again and learn from Sakho. I'd also rotate Matip and Tah for cups too, I personally like Tah more, but he is younger and even though I like Matip, I think he can be clumsy, not as bad as Lovren though. Got a feeling that Klopp will make him a world beater though.

I respect the rest of your opinion, but I can't take it seriously that you think Matip is much better than Lovren, it actually discredits the rest of what you've said. If I was to pick a defender for a 1v1 situation it would be lovren out of all the defenders at the club, he doesn't always dive in and can jockey well, he's made 2 or 3 good last man tackles this season. toure has made 1 or 2 himself, I'm not saying lovren would definitely be a starter in my team, but to say matip is instantly better than him is disrespectful, especially since dejan has had 2 + years worth experience in the premier league.

I agree with you, but unfortunately people here like to jump on the backs of the players we have and every new signing is hailed as a master of football who is vastly better than what we have.

True it's commonplace, I'm perhaps even slightly guilty of that. better than going the other extreme and thinking every new signing is dross though

Very harsh. Skrtel has been our best centre back in the past. He has had a few different competitors and partners at CB and for the large part he has remained first choice. Very loyal as well.