Sky Sports pundit Phil Thompson insists Liverpool must find themselves a new Graeme Souness for their midfield in the summer.
Souness is widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders in Liverpool history, winning five league Championships, three European Cups and four League Cups during his time at Anfield, where he also served as captain.
But Thompson believes that Liverpool need to re-discover a midfield player in today’s market with the same attitude and aggression that Souness showed throughout his Liverpool career.
He told Sky Sports: “We need a bit of attitude and aggression, a bit of a nark in central midfield if you want – a Graeme Souness, or dare I say it, a Roy Keane.”
Liverpool’s current midfield options have come under scrutiny this season, with the performances and ability of Lucas Leiva, Georginio Wijnaldum and Emre Can seemingly below the required standard for a title-challenging side.
Meanwhile, the leadership of captain Jordan Henderson has also been criticised, but Thompson appears to have told Jurgen Klopp what he needs to look for in the summer transfer market to solve the problem area.
He also added that Liverpool need to go all-out in the transfer market in order to turn themselves into genuine contenders for the Premier League title, and improve four problems areas.
He added: “Liverpool need to spend big in the summer and replace the spine of the team, which is a top goalkeeper, a top defender, a central midfielder with some bite and a quality striker.
“I think since Klopp has been there we’ve been in profit for transfers so there should be some money in the kitty.”
Liverpool’s hopes of lifting the league title this season appear all but over, with the Reds now 14 points adrift of leaders Chelsea, and one point outside the top-four.
A nightmare run of form in the new year also saw Liverpool eliminated from both domestic cup competitions, losing to Southampton in the EFL Cup semi-final, and to Wolves in the FA Cup fourth round.
They host rivals Arsenal at Anfield on Saturday, with defeat potentially seeing the Reds fall behind Manchester United into sixth place.
