Liverpool legend hands timely advice to Jurgen Klopp

John Barnes has advised Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to not buy players for the sake of it during the January transfer window.

Barnes does believe that the Reds defense needs improvement but adds that new players must only be brought in if they are available.

Liverpool are linked with a move for Southampton star Virgil Van Diyk.

They were strongly linked with the signature of the Dutch international during the summer but in the end, the Saints remained insistent that they would not sell.

The Reds looked on course for victory against Arsenal on Friday as they led the game 2-0 at half-time however some sloppy defending meant that the game ended 3-3.

Barnes said on talkSPORT: “Liverpool are not the only side who drops points, everyone drops points. There are points Liverpool should not have won but we did get them.

“We are not very good at the back but we should have been more clinical going forward. We should have had more goals in the first half, we could have been three of four up. We score a lot of goals but if you look at our conversion rate it’s not very good.

“But that is our manager. He has identified the problems and failed to get Virgil Van Dijk in and Naby Keita is coming next year so he does know we have to improve defensively. Hopefully in January or by next season we will have improved. But for now we have to play with what we have. We’re fourth at the moment which is good.

“Yes it’s disappointing we threw away the game but we were playing against a very good Arsenal team. Both teams are not great and that is not going to change overnight. Klopp has identified that problem and is looking to improve the situation with the players he has got.

“What Klopp shouldn’t do and fans need to also realise this, is spend money just for the sake of it. What he could have done is spent £60m pounds on players other than Van Dijk and Keita and players he did not want. “Klopp has been here for two years and unfortunately people think that is long enough for a manager.”