Jamie Carragher Questions Liverpool's Marquee Defensive Signing

Jamie Carragher Questions Liverpool's Marquee 

Defensive Signing

Jamie Carragher admits he's not sure how Mamadou Sakho will fit into the current Liverpool line-up

Mamadou Sakho was described by Ian Ayre as Liverpool's 'marquee signing'. But Jamie Carragher isn't sure how the defender will fit into the current set up.

Jamie Carragher believes that Kolo Toure and Tiago Ilori will make brilliant defensive signings for Liverpool this season, but the former Red isn't so sure over how Mamadou Sakho will fit into the current line-up.

When Carragher retired at the end of last season, there was much discussion over how the stalwart would be replaced; while the 35-year-old wasn't featuring in every game he was still a big influence on the squad both on and off the pitch.

Rodgers moved quickly to secure targets who would serve as decent replacements for the star, landing Toure early in the window to bring experience as well as similar skills to Carragher. On deadline day he was able to sign Ilori and Sakho, amid reports that the club had enquired for Toby Alderweireld but the defender went for Atletico Madrid instead.

And Carragher believes that while Toure and Ilori can fill the hole in Liverpool's defensive area, in the case of Sakho Carragher is undecided over how useful he will be with Daniel Agger already filling the position on the left side.

'It has been good to see Liverpool replace the old man who pottered away in retirement last May with three central defenders," he said in the Daily Mail. "Kolo Toure has settled well and made a bright start, Tiago Ilori has been brought from Sporting Lisbon for the future and then there is Mamadou Sakho.

"So it will be fascinating to see how Brendan fits Sakho in. He is a left-sided central defender but Liverpool already have a very good one of those in Daniel Agger, who has succeeded me as vice-captain.""He arrives on Merseyside with a solid reputation and it was interesting to hear that Ian Ayre, Liverpool's managing director, described him as 'a marquee signing' - when you spend £18million on someone, you would expect they will play.

Carragher argues that Rodgers is unlikely to change his tactics, particularly when Liverpool have had such a positive start to the season, and it will be interesting to see how he fits Sakho into the line-up.

He explained: "In my experience, you can play two right-footed central defenders as a partnership - that was the case when Sami Hyypia and I played alongside each other - but I have never seen a team line up with two left-footed central defenders as a partnership.

"I would doubt that Brendan is now going to start playing 3-5-2, even though he used it at fleeting times last season, so where Sakho fits in remains to be seen."