There have been a number of issues regarding strikers at Liverpool over the recent seasons. While the likes of Fernando Torres, Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge (to an extent for the Englishman) have worked out for the Reds, there have been a number of flops as well.
The lack of a proper target man seems to be hurting Liverpool this season as well and even though Roberto Firmino has done a great job, a regular goal scorer could have pushed the Reds further up the table, especially after their failings in attack in the month of January.
One former Liverpool player believes that the Reds could have signed one of the Premier League’s consistent scorers in Jermain Defoe.
Stan Collymore, in his column for Boyle Sports, added that Defoe could play for any top six sides and could have helped Liverpool clinch a top four finish.
“Jermain Defoe could easily do a job in a top six team. He would have been a deal clincher for Liverpool chasing the top four”.
This isn’t the first time that the Reds have been linked with a move for the former Tottenham and West Ham star. The striker was a real target for Brendan Rodgers in 2015 but the current Celtic manager decided not to move for the former West Ham striker.
Defoe was also a target for ex-manager Rafael Benitez back in 2006 and even Kenny Dalglish wanted the striker in 2012 according to Jamie Carragher.
“[Kenny] Dalglish [considered] signing Defoe in January 2012 as he knew he’d guarantee goals. Rafa Benitez also considered him in 2006 but chose Bellamy instead”.
The Englishman might be 34 at the moment but that does not stop him from being one of the most lethal strikers in the country. Even after returning from his short stint in the MLS, Defoe has been brilliant in front of goal for a struggling Sunderland side.
The former Tottenham man has scored 14 goals in 24 Premier League appearances this season and had it not been for his exploits in front of goal, the Black Cats would have been relegated a while back.
Defoe also scored 18 goals in all competitions last season but it doesn’t mean that he would be starting for Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp. Playing in the German’s team is a completely different task as Defoe would be required to do a lot of covering and running but there is one thing that he does guarantee and that is goals.
What Defoe would have given is another option for Klopp to look at but in all probability, the English striker would not have wanted to sit on the bench regularly for the Merseyside club.
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