Liverpool signed seven first team players over the summer, but departures have arguably left them short and needing recruitment in January.
Much has been made of Liverpool’s summer transfer window, when the Reds spent about £446 million on incoming players.
However, as Arne Slot has been keen to remind us, Liverpool’s squad did not get bigger because several first team members departed to the sum of £216m.
This meant their net spend was £33m less than Arsenal‘s and while Liverpool have undoubtedly underperformed, there has been some scope for Slot to lament his squad strength.
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, January 4, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot before the FA Premier League match between Fulham FC and Liverpool FC at Craven Cottage. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The Athletic report that Liverpool “do not intend to sign cover for Leoni or Isak in the current window, and that is likely to be the case for Bradley, as well.”
A solution would be to use the academy, but there have been several injuries there, too, which have hampered the seasons of Jayden Danns, Will Wright and other players who would have potentially featured.
Here, we look at where Liverpool may need to strengthen most.
Right-back
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - New Year's Day, Thursday, January 1, 2026: Liverpool's Jeremie Frimpong during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
First team: Frimpong, Gomez
Makeshift options: Szoboszlai, Jones
Academy options: Ramsay
Injured (return date): Bradley (July)
Conor Bradley‘s injury has ended his season and, with it, brought Slot an issue that he must now use Jeremie Frimpong over a prolonged period.
As a more attacking wing-back, Frimpong could work, but he has already picked up two hamstring injuries this season, leaving Dominik Szoboszlai to fill in at full-back which removes him from his influential midfield role.
Slot said: “I hope that you don’t think that I would like to play Dominik Szoboszlai as a right full-back.
“But Jeremie Frimpong has to play a lot of minutes, comes also back from an injury, has missed three or four months of a lot of playing time…
“It’s nine games in January with six defenders available. I have to manage it in the right way.”
Gomez is the most obvious alternative to Frimpong at right-back, but this means he can’t deputise at centre-half, a problem we will come onto below.
LONDON, ENGLAND - Thursday, January 8, 2026: Liverpool's Conor Bradley receives treatment during the FA Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC at the Emirates Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool transfer links at right-back
It is unlikely we see Liverpool sign a right-back in January and links are tenuous.
The most recent name to pop us is that of Julian Ryerson at Borussia Dortmund, whom Liverpool ‘are considering’, according to Absolute Fussball.
Sky Sport Germany’s Florian Plettenberg has since said the Norwegian is ‘currently not a candidate’.
Centre-half
Liverpool defensive depth chart January 2026: Who is available for each position?
Position First Choice Regular Cover Emergency
Centre-Back (R) Ibrahima Konate Joe Gomez Ryan GravenberchWataru EndoWellity Lucky
Centre-Back (L) Virgil van Dijk Andy RobertsonJoe Gomez Amara NalloWataru EndoAndy Robertson
Right-Back Jeremie Frimpong Joe GomezDominik Szoboszlai Calvin RamsayCurtis Jones
Left-Back Milos Kerkez Andy Robertson Joe Gomez
• Starters / Primary
• Regular Cover
• Emergency / Out of Position
Current Defensive Injuries
Since Giovanni Leoni was ruled out for the season with an ACL injury in September, centre-half has been a consistent worry due to the injury record of the Reds’ back-up, Gomez.
While Bradley and Frimpong were out, he started four of five consecutive matches which led to a hamstring injury against Brighton.
The fear is that this could happen again and Ryan Gravenberch or Andy Robertson would be forced to play in the middle of the defence, with young Wellity Lucky the only other alternative at centre-back.
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, November 30, 2025: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk (L) and Ibrahima Konaté applaud the supporters after the FA Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Liverpool FC at the London Stadium. Liverpool won 2-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool transfer links at centre-back
Marc Guehi is the main candidate after he came agonisingly close to signing in the summer, only for Crystal Palace to pull the plug on the deal after a medical had been completed.
James Pearce wrote: “A January move hasn’t been deemed realistic, due to the kind of financial package it would take to attempt to buy a player who is out of contract in just five months.”
Sky Sports have claimed that Palace would be open to a deal below the £35 million agreed with Liverpool at the end of the summer transfer window, but the *Guardian*‘s Ed Aarons has since reported their price tag as £40m due to competition from Man City and Bayern Munich.
Club Brugge defender Joel Ordonez has also been linked, but when approached by This Is Anfield, Liverpool denied any interest.
Midfield
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 10, 2025: Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, Florian Wirtz, Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo line-up before the FA Community Shield match between Crystal Palace FC and Liverpool FC at Wembley Stadium. Palace won 3-1 on penalties after a 2-2 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
First team: Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones, Endo, Nyoni
Academy options: Pilling
Injured: McConnell (February)
Liverpool’s issue in midfield is less of a problem with current injuries and more of an issue with fitness and form.
Given the Reds wanted to compete in four competitions this season, going into the season with just four regularly starting midfielders, plus Trey Nyoni, Wataru Endo and Florian Wirtz seemed unwise.
Now Liverpool are playing with a diamond and even starting Szoboszlai on the wing, the squad is definitely understocked in fit, quality midfielders.
Liverpool transfer links in midfield
Bringing back Harvey Elliott, who would suit a box midfield, from his loan at Aston Villa would be the obvious choice.
However, Liverpool seem keen to keep him in Birmingham and force his loan club into paying £35m at the end of the season. For this to happen, though, the 22-year-old would need to play 10 times, but Villa are resisting and omitting him from the squad.
Slot’s line has been consistent on the matter, saying: “He’s an Aston Villa player. So if you want to ask things about an Aston Villa player, you should ask Unai Emery.”
Wingers
Liverpool attacking depth chart January 2026: Who is available for each position?
Position First Choice Regular Cover Emergency
Left-Winger Cody Gakpo Rio Ngumoha
Florian Wirtz|Federico Chiesa
Curtis Jones|
|Centre-Forward|Hugo Ekitike|Cody Gakpo|Florian Wirtz|
|Right-Winger|Mo Salah|Federico Chiesa
Dominik Szoboszlai|Jeremie Frimpong
Kieran Morrison|
• Starters / Primary
• Regular Cover
• Emergency / Out of Position
Current Attacking Absences
Liverpool lack pace and Frimpong has it. He isn’t, though, a top-quality attacker, hence having played at wing-back for much of his career.
Alexander Isak has it when fit, but fit he evidently wasn’t, even before sustaining a serious injury. Hugo Ekitike possesses speed, but he doesn’t play on the wing.
This season, Liverpool have had Mo Salah and Cody Gakpo on their wings with both players going through a period of poor form.
The Reds’ attack just doesn’t have the aggression we saw from the likes of Sadio Mane, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, September 29, 2025: Liverpool's (L-R) Cody Gakpo, Jeremie Frimpong and Mohamed Salah during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between Galatasaray A.?. and Liverpool FC. (Photo by Richard Martin-Roberts/Propaganda)
Liverpool transfer links for wingers
While there are promising attackers in the academy, such as Jayden Danns and Trent Kone-Doherty, they are still some way off the senior team due to age and injuries.
Antoine Semenyo was the most probable attacker to join, but he has gone to Man City resulting in sparse legitimate transfer rumours linking the Reds to wingers.
The Reds were reported to be interested in Michael Olise, Rodrygo and Bradley Barcola in the summer, but they wouldn’t come cheap and are more likely to be summer acquisitions.