Liverpool should take time if unsure about Virgil van Dijk transfer: Sami Hyypia

Mumbai: Liverpool romped into the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League in style on Thursday, with a 7-0 battering of Spartak Moscow. Despite a commendable clean sheet on the night, there’s no doubting that defence continues to remain Liverpool’s major Achilles heel.

With the January transfer window drawing closer, rumour mills regarding Virgil van Dijk’s move to Anfield have surfaced again. The Dutch international was a subject of a controversial transfer in June before the Merseyside club were forced to issue an apology to Southampton for indirectly approaching the 26-year-old.

Many questions were raised over Jurgen Klopp’s inability to sign a quality centre-back, but former Liverpool defender Sami Hyppia doesn’t view the club’s summer activity as a failure.

“I don’t see the summer transfer window as a failure. Maybe Jurgen Klopp didn’t have the right centre-back to get at that time. He has a lot of trust in his players and keeps everyone who is part of his plans. That’s more important than getting a new player. As I said before, we have good centre-backs but when you play in the top competitions, you can have a bad day for any reason. And when you play bad you lose confidence,” the Finnish legend told Deccan Chronicle at LFC World, Mumbai.  

“I still think we have good centre-backs, but we should try to get better. Klopp knows which kind of player we would need. Van Dijk is a good player, but personally, I have no clue how he’d fit. If his price is not right and if they (Southampton) ask too much, it’s not good. So if Liverpool are not sure, they need to take time,” he added.

Robbie Fowler, who was also present at the event along with Vladimir Smicer and Luis Garcia spoke about the club’s chances of getting their hands on the Premier League trophy.

“At the minute, clubs are playing catch up with Manchester City. We need City to go through a poor run, not get points. The current Liverpool squad is very good, much better than last year. Klopp is getting them play the right way and there’s still a long way to go. Man City are massive, massive favourites to win the league. But Liverpool are just waiting for a slip-up and they have a very good chance,” the former Manchester City striker explained.

LFC World is a fan-experience initiative adopted by the Premier League giants and Standard Chartered with an aim to form a close relationship with fans around the world.