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Liverpool lost 4-1 to Manchester City on Saturday, in another blow to the club’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.

Rather than the title battle that many expected from the Reds, they’ve instead found themselves desperately trying to get into the top four.

That looks a difficult task right now, with them currently in eighth place and seven points adrift of the qualifying spots.

One part of the team not as strong as it once was is defence, with Virgil Van Dijk not quite offering the guarantees he once did for Liverpool.

Whilst it’s not thought Jurgen Klopp’s side will look to replace the Dutchman immediately, it is time to start looking to the future. Van Dijk turns 32-years-of-age this summer, and a younger addition to the club’s group of central defenders could be useful in the long term.

Sunday’s edition of A Bola reports Liverpool are keen on Benfica’s Antonio Silva, however, the message the newspaper is sending out comes from the Lisbon club.

There’s an insistence Silva can only leave Benfica this summer if a club pay his €100m clause. Liverpool have already sent officials to watch him on multiple occasions, but that clause could be just a little on the high side for them, especially with work also needed on midfield.