Liverpool have had a slow start to their season in the Premier League with only nine points picked up from their first six outings leaving the Reds currently 8th in the league table.

Jurgen Klopp will be feeling frustrated after the worst start to a season under his reign at Anfield, but there have been many issues mounting with numerous injuries in the midfield over the season so far.

Naby Keita, Curtis Jones, Thiago Alcantara, Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Fabio Carvalho have all suffered injuries over the first few weeks of the season so far which led to the panic loan signing of Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo on Deadline Day, but the Brazilian has been rarely seen since his arrival.

With James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita all out of contract next season, the spotlight will be on the midfield and the club's pursuit to freshen up the centre of the pitch.

One player who has been linked with the club in the last few days is Real Madrid's Federico Valverde, with reports that Liverpool already made an £86m bid during the last transfer window.

If Liverpool could complete a deal for the talented midfielder next summer he could be the perfect signing to replace Naby Keita if the Guinea international doesn't extend his current contract that will expire in June 2023.

In fact, the Uruguayan sensation who was hailed "untouchable" by Carlo Ancelotti could be a massive upgrade on Keita, as the Los Blancos midfielder comfortably unperformed him in many key midfield attributes over the last season.

Valverde had a better pass completion rate (87.6% v 85.6%), completed more dribbles (63.9% v 60%), offered more shot creating actions (64 v 43) and won more aerial duels (57.1% v 33.3%).

The 24-year-old crucially offers a lot more availability than the Liverpool liability who has spent over a year of his four-year contract on the injury table, with Valverde only spending 32 days out with a sprain last season.

He has already been a huge influence in Ancelotti's team this term with four goals and two assists in nine appearances, whilst Keita is yet to be seen following another injury.

With that being said, it will be interesting to see if Liverpool will pursue the signing of Valverde whilst also competing for another high-priced midfielder as Jude Bellingham remains on the club's radar.