Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes Jurgen Klopp would love to have Manchester United duo Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez in his side.
The United stars made summer moves to Old Trafford from Real Madrid and Ajax respectively and have helped elevate the squad to the next level. After their worst-ever Premier League points tally last season, United sit comfortably in the top four, have already won the Carabao Cup, and still remain in both the FA Cup and Europa League.
Liverpool, meanwhile, have endured a massive dropoff from last season, where they were just one point and a Champions League final away from a quadruple. Klopp's side currently sit sixth in the table, with a major challenge ahead to finish in the top four, and their Champions League hopes hanging by a thread after a 5-2 first leg last-16 home defeat to Real Madrid, meaning they are almost certain to end the campaign trophyless.
ALSO READ: Two United players set to return vs Liverpool
After a highly successful few years, Liverpool's squad is now very much in desperate need of a rebuild, with significant investment required this summer. And Anfield legend Carragher believes United duo Casemiro and Martinez are exactly the type of players Klopp needs to get his side back competing at the top once again.
He said: "After Liverpool’s comprehensive 4-0 win last season, the suggestion Manchester United were 'years behind' their rivals took hold." Carragher told the Daily Telegraph. "I said it was nonsense then, and as an ex-Liverpool player took no pleasure in being right after United’s Carabao Cup underlined their massive progress this season.
"The combination of Ten Hag’s astute management and coaching and the introduction of proven competitors with the right mentality such as Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez is proof that big clubs only need two or three top-class players to be transformed. Klopp will be looking for his own Casemiro and Martínez this summer, a dominant central midfielder and quality centre-back to partner Virgil van Dijk.
"Then we might finally see what the Premier League has generally lacked – a strong Manchester United and Liverpool facing each other as a genuine threat to title ambitions rather than a distraction to deal with twice a season."
READ NEXT
