Liverpool's number one January priority is now clear

For Liverpool, replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson was always going to be an impossible task, and the club’s attempts so far have not been successful.

Conor Bradley has spent close to a year sidelined by a catastrophic injury, whilst Jeremie Frimpong now finds himself behind loanee central defender Ronald Araujo in the right-back ranks.

At left-back, the Reds haven’t had much more joy, with Kostas Tsimikas and Milos Kerkez both failing to assert themselves as genuine starters under Andoni Iraola.

Tsimikas was always expected to be a backup at Anfield, but the excuses for Kerkez are running out, and Liverpool need a new left-back.

If the Reds are serious about competing for a trophy this season, or even securing a top four finish, then they simply have to sign a left-back this winter.

Kerkez has disappointed over and over this season, and the 22-year-old is quickly becoming a liability in Liverpool's back line.

Several potential replacements are currently being linked with Merseyside moves ahead of the winter window, but left-back is becoming a bigger priority for Liverpool's recruitment team week after week.

Iraola seems to have solidified the defence after a rocky campaign under Arne Slot last season, with Jeremy Jacquet hitting the ground running, but strengthening on the left-hand side is crucial to ensure Liverpool's defence returns to being one of the league's best.

Tsimikas is into the final year of his current deal, and would likely need to be replaced in the summer regardless, so moving on the Greek international this winter would make sense.

Bringing in another left-back to take Tsimikas' place and compete with Kerkez would either hopefully see the Hungarian's performances improve or offer a better alternative if he continues to disappoint.

Left-back is going to be an issue that persists at Anfield until it is addressed, so Julian Ward would be better off sorting it in his first transfer window than letting it fester.