Man City showed Liverpool exactly which two January signings they need to make to save their season

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After all of the noise from Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat against Manchester City has subsided, Andoni Iraola – and the Reds supporters – should be more than a little concerned by what they saw at Anfield on Sunday.Ironically given the selection problems they had going into the game, the performance was not necessarily the issue for Liverpool, as they more than matched City until Ryan Gravenberch’s soft sending off after an hour.But no matter the fight in the display, it was almost comedically clear that Lewis Koumas, for example, should not be starting a game of this magnitude. The difference in those Enzo Maresca was able to call on to change the game from the bench, and those Iraola had to bring on, was night and day.FULL TIME Give us your INSTANT REACTION as Liverpool lose 3-0 to Man City 😡 That the Liverpool squad is so light after three or four injuries is the fault of Richard Hughes and the recruitment team, who failed to equip Iraola with what he needs to make the Reds competitive this season.Sunday’s game made it clear that Liverpool will not survive the season with what they currently have.

Liverpool must sign a new right-backPrior to Sunday’s game, Liverpool had not conceded in three Premier League matches, giving hope that Iraola had sorted the Reds’ long-standing defensive deficiencies. The dilemma of who to play at right-back plagued Arne Slot last season, and a failure to sort the issue for fourth consecutive transfer window will see Iraola struggle as well.It may be difficult for Liverpool to sign the right player in the January, but even a temporary solution, such as the one they tried with Denzel Dumfries and Lutsharel Geertruida last winter, would help fix this.No excuses for not strengthening the midfieldAnother deficiency which became even more clear against City was Liverpool’s problems in central midfield.

With Szoboszlai injured and Gravenberch off, though, there was nowhere else for Iraola to turn.Liverpool should have signed a midfielder this summer, of that there is little question, and it has taken only six games for their problems to be laid completely bare.Injury to Szoboszlai was always possible given the extent to which Hungary run him into the ground, and if there is even one other absentee on top of that, Liverpool are down to the dregs.Nyoni may yet turn into a superstar when given his chance, let’s hope that he does, but even that would not fully cover Iraola. Iraola could turn it around, there is plenty of time for him to do so, but unless the necessary additions are made, it feels as though Sunday was a sign of things to come for Liverpool.