Jurgen Klopp confirms he is 'looking for solutions' heading into the January transfer window

Klopp is facing a defensive crisis as Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are set to spend the rest of the season on the sidelines with long-term injuries, while full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is also out with an injury.

With Jordan Henderson also missing from Sunday game against Leicester on Sunday and Mohamed Salah absent after he tested positive for Covid-19, the heart of Liverpool's title winning team from last season has been ripped out.

While Klopp insists he cannot guarantee new players will arrive at Anfield in the next transfer window, his latest comments suggest he is open to additions to his squad.

“If we can do something in January I have no idea. If we want to do something in January I have no idea. We’ll just have to see,” said Klopp on whether he has to dip into the transfer market.

“That we look for solutions and the transfer market – that is clear – but in the moment we have the situation we have.

“I don’t want to compare situations but when I came to Dortmund in 2008 my two centre-halves were 19 and turned 20 that winter and we played with them for that entire time. Mats Hummels and Neven Subotic.

“We have talent here. They are young – 18, 19, 23 – and we have more experienced players, so we will see. Everybody has a chance.

“They can smell the chance and they step up. They want to show they are ready and we will see.

“We have midfielders – not in the moment but hopefully in a couple of weeks – who can play the more defensive role as well. For the moment we are fine.

“I’m really confident it will work out with the boys and then hopefully we can convince the rest of the world as well.”

Fabinho has a chance of being fit for Sunday after returning to training but the wait appears to be going on for Thiago Alcantara.

The Spain international played just 135 minutes in two appearances before sustaining a knee injury in last month’s Merseyside derby – overshadowed by the anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained by Virgil Van Dijk in the same match – and his return is taking longer than expected.

When it was suggested supporters are desperate to see the world-class midfielder back in action Klopp replied: “So am I. I cannot change these things. We have to deal with the consequences of injuries, of the accidents, the fouls or whatever.

“If he could have played before he would have played before but he couldn’t but he is out there on the pitch running, doing a lot of stuff, and it will not be too long any more.

“In the beginning we got the horrible pictures from Virgil and were kind of relieved it’s not that serious for Thiago, but it was always clear it wouldn’t be two or three days.

“At first we thought it would settle quickly but it didn’t and that’s what you have to accept. We will not rush it. We prepare him for the rest of the season, not for the first game he can play again.

“Players have to train in the big sessions with the team, and not only once.

“Fabinho was part of that and what we make of that I don’t know yet because I don’t know how he reacts but Fabinho was part of normal team training.”