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Liverpool has conceded only two fewer goals than it has scored in the Premier League so far this season, with Arne Slot's side struggling to click into gear at the back.
And after it lost 3-0 at home to Crystal Palace in the League Cup fourth round, Liverpool has now lost six of its last seven matches in all competitions — facing Aston Villa, Real Madrid and Manchester City next.
After a big summer of transfers, those who arrived are still settling in, but the work in the market is unlikely to be over. Even before Giovanni Leoni's ACL injury, there was a case to be made for Liverpool being light at center-back.
Former Reds midfielder Didi Hamann believes that Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck could be the answer — though the 25-year-old has also been interesting other clubs.
"Bayern Munich are stepping up their interest in Schlotterbeck," Hamann told Esports Bet. "He was absolutely outstanding on Saturday.
"He's been out with an injury for four or five months and only been back for four or five weeks, but he's a natural leader. Bayern Munich are interested, but you don't know how long Virgil van Dijk is going to be there.
"The perfect situation would be to bring somebody in who maybe plays with Van Dijk for one or two years and then takes over Van Dijk's role. I think he'd be a great signing for Liverpool, and a lot of other teams as well."
With Van Dijk getting older and Ibrahima Konate out of contract at the end of the season as things stand, Liverpool will soon have to think about bringing in other options.
Marc Guehi, who played against Liverpool on Wednesday, was almost signed in the summer before the deal broke down.
And Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has already confirmed that his captain will depart in 2026. Like Konate, his contract is due to expire.
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In the League Cup, Slot moved to playing a back three, though Andy Robertson, a left-back, and Wataru Endo, a midfielder, were drafted in alongside Joe Gomez.
However, he was insistent at the final whistle that wasn't something that he will be looking to move to full-time.
"I got the same question a second ago," Slot said in his post-match press conference. "When we play teams that are playing 5-2-3, it has mostly been that Ryan Gravenberch then is taking the inverted left winger.
"So, then you're also defending with five. It is not for the first time that we build up with three players as well, so I wouldn't see too much into that."
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