Liverpool should sign Stoke City's Ryan Shawcross, says Phil Thompson

Anfield legend says the tough centre-half would shore up Jurgen Klopp's nervous defence

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Liverpool should move for Stoke City centre-back Ryan Shawcross to shore up their porous defence, believes Phil Thompson.

Shawcross has helped Stoke to seven clean sheets in their last 13 games, but will miss tonight’s second leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final with a back injury.

And Liverpool legend Thompson says 28-year-old Shawcross would be ‘absolutely ideal’ for Jurgen Klopp, whose side have conceded 32 goals in 23 league games this season – more than any other side in the top half of the table.

“When Liverpool evaluate at the end of the season and look at the sort of goals they conceded, I wouldn't be averse to see them looking towards Shawcross as a solution,” Thompson said.

“In fact I think he would be absolutely ideal and he’s been one of the most underrated centre-backs over the last five seasons. You just have to look at Stoke's stats with and without him.”

Liverpool go into tonight’s semi-final second leg at Anfield with a 1-0 lead from the first leg.