Liverpool are reportedly considering recalling both Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips from their respective loan spells following confirmation of Joel Matip's anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Former Cameroon international Matip had begun to re-establish himself as Virgil van Dijk's main central partner in the 2023-24 season, but he went down with a knee injury during the Reds' enthralling 4-3 win over Fulham two weekends ago.
Jurgen Klopp was immediately pessimistic about Matip's diagnosis, and scans showed that the 32-year-old had suffered a complete ACL rupture, which is expected to rule him out for the rest of the season.
Matip had demoted Ibrahima Konate to the bench more often than not in this season's top flight, but the Frenchman - who has also battled through his own injury troubles in recent months - will now be expected to start regularly alongside Van Dijk for the remainder of the campaign.
Klopp also has Joe Gomez and 20-year-old academy product Jarell Quansah available to him in the heart of defence, while holding midfielder Wataru Endo could also be deployed at the back in an emergency.
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However, Matip's crushing blow has inevitably led to rumours that Liverpool could target a new centre-back in the January transfer window, although Klopp has played down speculation that the Reds could sign a replacement for the ex-Schalke 04 man.
Instead, the Daily Mail reports that Liverpool are weighing up whether to bring Williams back to Anfield from Aberdeen, while a separate report from The Mirror claims that Celtic loanee Phillips could also be summoned back to Merseyside.
The pair have only been fringe players for Liverpool since their first-team breakthroughs but memorably enjoyed a run of games during the second half of the 2020-21 season, when Van Dijk, Matip and Gomez were all injured.
Klopp's side achieved Champions League qualification by the skin of their teeth that year, and ahead of their defeat to Real Madrid in the 2021-22 final, the German stated that Liverpool would not have been in that position without Williams and Phillips.
Neither man has gone on to become a first-team regular for the Anfield giants, though, with Williams being loaned out to both Swansea City and Blackpool before joining Aberdeen for the 2023-24 campaign this summer.
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However, the 22-year-old's switch to Pittodrie has not worked out as intended, as he has not made a single senior appearance for Aberdeen, only playing one Challenge Cup game for the B team.
Phillips joined Williams in crossing the border over the summer, arriving at Celtic on a short-term deal after a permanent exit from Liverpool failed to materialise, and the 26-year-old has made a handful of appearances for Brendan Rodgers.
Phillips has played eight times for the Bhoys across all competitions, including starts in the Champions League against Lazio and Atletico Madrid, but he has featured from the first whistle in just three Scottish Premiership contests.
Liverpool are yet to make any final decisions on their defensive dilemma, though, and the Reds could even abandon the idea of recalling Phillips and Williams entirely if Quansah continues to impress.
Klopp's men close out their successful Europa League group-stage campaign against Union SG on Thursday before welcoming Manchester United to Anfield for Sunday's blockbuster Premier League affair.
Ben Knapton
