Former Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has explained why no centre-back "at the top of his game" will want to permanently move to Anfield in the January transfer window.
The Reds have been linked with a whole host of central defenders from across Europe as they aim to plug the hole left by Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez - both of whom suffered major knee injuries early in the season.
But little progress has been made in bringing a new centre-back to Anfield, with midfielders Fabinho and Jordan Henderson forced to drop back into an unfamiliar role in recent Premier League fixtures.
Johnson believes Liverpool will struggle to convince an elite-level centre-back to move to Merseyside, as they will immediately fall down the pecking order once Van Dijk and Gomez return to full fitness.
"It’s a tough one. Obviously Hendo and Fabinho are fantastic players and have proved that they can do a job at centre-half," the former England right-back told Sky Sports .
"The problem is for Liverpool that if they try to sign someone, whoever comes through the door is going to know that they are third, fourth or even fifth choice come eight months’ time.
"What player at the top of his game is going to want to do that?"
As such, Johnson - who made 200 appearances for the Reds - claims Liverpool would have a better chance trying to land a centre-back on a temporary deal.
He added: "Possibly a loan, maybe? Possibly someone that knows they are only going to come in until the end of the season.
"That’s probably a more likely option - but do they need more bodies? Yes, definitely."
Joel Matip missed the 0-0 draw with Manchester United on Sunday with a groin injury, but he will return to training ahead of the clash with Burnley on Thursday.
Leudmnory
175
That's the flipping stupid mind games that the media are playing to make Liverpool believe that they have the best fearsome threesome in the world how Liverpool even swallowed that bull is beyond me even when they don't perform they still stick with that mantra misleading the coaching staff that was only a ploy to stop Liverpool from reinforcing the squad to maintain that high level of accuracy they're playing now look at them now just a couple of injuries and they're in shambles I've always said buy more players and let them no there's no guarantee that your in the side let there be competition for places in doing so Klopp won't have this dilemma of not knowing who to play and give the players fair chances if the favorites are not performing drop them then they'll no that they're being paid the big bucks to perform to their best to keep their place in the squad and not take it for granted but that they are replaceable and do away with the favoritism