25 December 2023 , 21:30
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Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher feels Jurgen Klopp could look to bolster his attacking options next summer if Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo don't pull their socks up.
Klopp has a wealth of forwards options at his disposal, including Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and the injured Diogo Jota. But Sky Sports pundit Carragher has questioned whether Liverpool need more firepower going forward if they are to challenge for major honours.
The former Reds defender questioned Klopp's choice to start Gakpo over Nunez in Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Saturday, despite the Dutchman finding the net against West Ham in midweek. Carragher has also pointed a finger at Luis Diaz for his recent form which he feels is not up to the standard Klopp would expect of one of his frontmen.
Speaking on the Gary Neville podcast, Carragher said: "Looking at Liverpool's front three, there's something not quite right about it and for me, Nunez starts on the bench, for me he has to be one of the first names on the team sheet. I saw him in midweek (against West Ham) and although he didn't score, he's creating, he can do something, Gakpo has been here for close to 12 months and he's had flashes but nowhere near enough.
"Diaz just looks like a shadow of himself, the knee injuries last season, he had family problems this season, but I feel Diaz needs a big second half of the season or Liverpool will be going in the market in the summer.
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"With (Sadio) Mane and (Roberto) Firmino going they haven't really replaced them in terms of quality, we're almost making excuses for him (Nunez). but what Liverpool have still got in the front three is Mo Salah as your number one, Nunez is your number two then it's who else in the front three."
Salah was on target for Liverpool in the draw with Arsenal, hauling his side level from a goal down after Gabriel's early opener. The Egyptian still has 18 months left to run on his contract at Anfield, though interest from Saudi Arabia refuses to go away.
Jamie Carragher feels Liverpool could look for an upgrade on Cody Gakpo or Luis Diaz (AP)Klopp set tongues wagging again this week as to who could potentially replace Salah, again praising West Ham's Jarrod Bowen who the Liverpool boss has been a long-term admirer of. “[Bowen is] probably my favourite player besides my players,” Klopp said before the 5-1 win over West Ham, in which the England international scored the Hammers' consolation goal. “It’s just great what he’s doing and how he develops.”
One stumbling block for Klopp if he wishes to sign the 27-year-old, however, is that Bowen only signed a seven-year contract with West Ham in the summer. His Hammers team-mate Michail Antonio said on the Footballer’s Football Podcast: “Jurgen Klopp said before the game that Jarrod Bowen is his favourite player in the league other than his own players. I think he’s trying to lay those seeds man, he wants Jarrod."
Antonio also added: “He can lay the seeds all he likes mate. The man has just signed a seven year deal bro, if he wants that, he can bring the money. Who’s he going to replace, obviously he plays on the right? Are you hinting at something here? Are you letting Salah go yeah?”
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