Liverpool offered the chance to sign Arsenal centre-back

Liverpool are in a good position to defend their Premier League crown.

The Reds, who won their first top-flight title in 30 years last term, are sitting in second place ahead of a top of the table showdown against leaders and rivals Manchester United on Sunday.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have managed to string together results despite an injury crisis at centre-back.

Long-term injury victims Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez have been sidelined since October and November respectively.

Van Dijk has been a huge loss for Liverpool.

Joel Matip has also had his fitness issues which means defensive midfielder Fabinho has been pushed back, while Jordan Henderson, plus inexperienced duo Rhy Williams and Nat Phillips, have also filled in at different times.

With Klopp short in that area of his squad, the champions were reportedly considering a surprise swoop for a Premier League defender.

According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, who was speaking to the Here We Go Podcast, Liverpool had an opportunity to sign Arsenal’s Sokratis Papastathopoulos.

Sokratis has played 69 times for Arsenal.

The 32-year-old, who played under Klopp at Borussia Dortmund, was not included in Mikel Arteta’s Premier League squad for this season and is out of contract in the summer.

“He was offered to Liverpool too, you know that? Liverpool were looking for an opportunity and he was offered to Liverpool, but at the moment he’s not an option,” said Romano.

“Yes, also he could be an opportunity, he was an opportunity because he was offered, but at the moment Liverpool have not decided whether they’re signing a centre-back or not, they’re still in the middle of the situation, so nothing has been decided.”

Sokratis has had an up and down Arsenal career but, with Liverpool very short in this area right now, the Greece international could be viewed as a good, experienced short-term solution by Klopp.