Former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann believes that Arne Slot must return to the market in January to solve their brewing defensive issues. The Reds were dealt a blow when summer signing, Giovanni Leoni, was ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering a serious knee injury during their Carabao Cup third round tie against Southampton.

Crystal Palace, who visit Anfield in the next round of the same competition, pulled the plug on a deadline day deal for Marc Guehi to move to Merseyside. The England defender was a player of interest for the Premier League champions throughout the summer, with Liverpool not rushing into a late deal as the centre-back was out of contract in the summer, but at the eleventh-hour Steve Parish denied the 25-year-old the chance to join the club.

As a result, Liverpool have been left bare for options in that department with Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez the only out-and-out options to deputise alongside captain Virgil van Dijk. There are...