Liverpool got back to winning ways on Boxing Day, eventually overcoming Burnley 2-0 at Turf Moor. Darwin Núñez got himself back on the scoresheet with a superb strike from the edge of the box, but the headlines were earned by the returning Diogo Jota, who clicked straight back into match action with the second goal of the evening.
Joe Gomez put in another good display at left-back and has been impressing on both flanks in the past month or so. With Kostas Tsimikas out with a broken collarbone and Andy Robertson yet to return to full training, Gomez may have to start the majority of his side’s January fixtures at left-back.
With the January transfer window just days from opening, could Jürgen Klopp be tempted to dip into the market to ease his left-sided troubles? The Daily Express’s Charlie Parker-Turner reported that the Reds have ‘contacted Fulham’ over the signing of Antonee Robinson.
On the latest episode of our Journo Insight show, we asked experienced LFC reporter Neil Jones for his thoughts on the Robinson story.
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Neil said: “I’ll be amazed if Liverpool sign a left back of that stature in this window or the next window, to be honest.
“I don’t think you’re going to go and spend whatever money Fulham would want. He is their starting left-back as well. It’s not like he’s an unwanted player. He’s one of their main players, to be fair.
“He’s a decent player. He’s lightning quick. He’s a very attack-minded left-back. I’ve seen him have bad games defensively, but he’s a real flyer down the left.
“Tsimikas signed a contract in the summer long term, [he] has been doing well before he got injured. Robertson’s working his way back. I don’t think he’s too far away.
“Are Liverpool going to sign a left back for – I don’t think you’d be getting him from much less than £20 million – to come in and be part of three left backs?
“He’s not someone who can play multiple positions, either. It’s not like he can do a job and we can play him left mid, or we can play him midfield or centre half.
“He’s a specialist left back. I just can’t see Liverpool doing it, unless one of them was to leave, which isn’t happening.”
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Redmen Reacts
Despite reaching the halfway point of the season top of the league, Liverpool need to make sure they avoid a defensive injury crisis similar to the one which derailed their title challenge in the 20/21 season. Question marks remain over Joe Gomez’s ability to play high-intensity football twice a week. Youngsters Luke Chambers and Callum Scanlon did not look ready for Premier League minutes in their brief appearances. With Gomez covering every position across the back line, an injury to him would be a serious blow.
As Neil points out, it seems unlikely that the transfer committee would fork out a large fee for a specialist left-back, given the club already have two on their books. A versatile defender who can play at full-back and centre-back would fit the bill with Jöel Matip out for the rest of the season.
