---
title: "Liverpool are “outsiders” for the title, claims former sporting director"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/articles/liverpool-are-outsiders-for-the-title-claims-former-sporting-director/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Articles"
published: "2020-10-31T09:00:44Z"
modified: "2020-10-31T09:00:44Z"
---

# Liverpool are “outsiders” for the title, claims former sporting director

Liverpool are now “outsiders” to win the Premier League title after injuries, according to former scout and sporting director Tor-Kristian Karlsen.

The Reds have been rocked by a succession of fitness issues, particularly in defence.

Joe Gomez is Liverpool’s only fit senior centre-back, with Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho and Joel Matip all missing.

Many feel that Van Dijk’s absence is particular huge, given the Dutchman’s unrivalled influence on his team, claiming it will [ruin](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2020/10/19/liverpools-title-hopes-are-over-after-van-dijk-injury-claims-cascarino/) their chances of securing back-to-back titles.

Someone who thinks the same is Karlsen, who told [https://www.vg.no/sport/fotball/i/2ddp4R/eksperter-om-liverpools-skadekrise-kan-oedelegge-hele-sesongen](https://www.vg.no/sport/fotball/i/2ddp4R/eksperter-om-liverpools-skadekrise-kan-oedelegge-hele-sesongen)*[VG](https://www.vg.no/sport/fotball/i/2ddp4R/eksperter-om-liverpools-skadekrise-kan-oedelegge-hele-sesongen)*, via [https://sportwitness.co.uk/i-dont-envy-klopp-ex-club-chief-big-liverpool-injury-disaster-reds-now-outsiders-pl-title/](https://sportwitness.co.uk/i-dont-envy-klopp-ex-club-chief-big-liverpool-injury-disaster-reds-now-outsiders-pl-title/)*[Sport Witness](https://sportwitness.co.uk/i-dont-envy-klopp-ex-club-chief-big-liverpool-injury-disaster-reds-now-outsiders-pl-title/)*, that he struggles to see the champions enjoying more glory next May:

> “That Van Dijk was injured was in itself a disaster. Then Fabinho is also injured. It is clear that they are greatly reduced \[in numbers in defence\].

> I don’t envy Klopp and the sports apparatus of Liverpool at all in the task of solving this.”

> You have to build up the attacks in a completely different way, and the mechanisms and relationships that you are so used to, they disappear.”

> There are big challenges, and the defensive position is, from experience, the most difficult position to find someone new in. This complicates the season for Liverpool very much.”

> The Van Dijk injury was the result of a tackle, but as we see with Fabinho, fatigue injuries are starting to come, and it is terribly difficult for clubs to know how much you can actually burden players in the fixtures list that \[we have\] now.

> They go well from being a favorite to becoming outsiders here \[to win the title\].

### Read Liverpool Verdict

Although Liverpool’s centre-back shortage is clearly a problem at the moment, I still think there is an overreaction regarding their title hopes.

This is still a team that has numerous player who are arguably among the best in the world in their respective positions, whether it to be [Alisson](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/alisson-big-moment-keeper-best-in-the-world-liverpool/usp8zpy2cil1ffke263t45uw), [Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/robertson-and-alexander-arnold-are-the-best-full-backs-in/1ozirv79om1zc1rzaokah4vugc), [Thiago](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/mane-thiago-one-of-the-best-in-the-world-liverpool-lucky/1fy00ow2nc0a81u7snq7ispv2s), [Mohamed Salah or Sadio Mane](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/the-worlds-best-wing-duo-salah-mane-now-comparable-with/yza5xfkdalhq1r3t5qei76zp3).

There is no doubt that Liverpool will look weaker without the incredible Van Dijk, but they can still thrive with Gomez, Fabinho and Matip, if the latter pair can get fit again quickly.