This is Liverpool’s dream January defence including these key targets

There was a huge sense of optimism preceding Jurgen Klopp’s first full season in charge at Liverpool, and that optimism has certainly been vindicated in the first three months of the season.

The Reds are second in the Premier League having won nine of their opening 13 games, with Burnley the only side to beat Klopp’s men in any competition so far this season.

Victories over Leicester, Chelsea, and Arsenal have demonstrated Liverpool’s title credentials, and in Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, and Philippe Coutinho, they have the most in-form front line in the division.

Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

The Reds have netted 32 times in the league this season, three more than the next best Manchester City and Chelsea, but back-to-back clean sheets have also suggested that they are capable defensively, something many were unsure of at the start of the campaign.

Nonetheless, they turn their attentions away from the league this week, as they have the small matter of a League Cup quarter-final against Leeds on Tuesday night.

The Reds are heavy favourites to make it into the last four and a step closer to a second successive League Cup final, although they’ll hope for a better outcome if they do make the Wembley showpiece in February.

With January fast approaching, Klopp could already be considering how best to strengthen his squad ahead of a title challenge, with the defence the area many feel could let them down as the season progresses.

Thus, here is the dream Liverpool backline, including two key January targets…