Aldridge: Liverpool need combative striker

Cape Town - Liverpool need to invest in a top quality centre-forward with a physical presence, according to former striker John Aldridge.

The Reds suffered a surprise 3-1 defeat at the hands of a struggling Leicester City side on Monday, which further compounded the problems they've been experiencing.

Jurgen Klopp's men have been eliminated from both domestic cup competitions and have slipped out of the Premier League's top four. Aldridge believes it's time for a change in personnel. 

"He needs to go after players with the aggression, the physicality and the character to cope with these demands," Aldridge wrote in his weekly Liverpool Echo column. 

"He needs players who can fight when the going gets tough. We simply don't have enough of those type. 

"Against Leicester, it struck me as obvious that we need a tough, physical centre forward.

"When a defence is under pressure, they need somebody up front who can hold the ball up, take a knock off a centre-half, flick a header on, run the channel and give you an outlet, someone who starts the fight from the front."

"It's the hardest thing in the world to sign a top, top striker, but we have to get out there and find one. A (Robert) Lewandowski, who Klopp found at Dortmund, a Harry Kane, a (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic, (Diego)Costa. The top sides have that kind of player, we don't."

Meanwhile, Liverpool will welcome Arsenal to Anfield on Saturday, March 4 for a Premier League encounter.

Kick off is at 19:30.