Liverpool supporters have been making a lot of noise in the Transfer Tavern this week after seeing their side batter West Ham 4-1 in the Premier League on Sunday, thus securing a third win in the space of just seven days.

Jurgen Klopp’s men went into their clash with the struggling Hammers off the back of comfortable victories over Huddersfield Town and Maribor, and first half strikes from Mohamed Salah and Joel Matip set them on their way to another three points at the London Stadium. And although Manuel Lanzini gave the hosts hope ten minutes into the second half, that was soon banished thanks to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s first league goal for the club, before Salah bagged his second and Liverpool’s fourth 15 minutes from time to seal the victory.

Thus, there have been many happy Liverpudlians in the Tavern this week, many of whom are in optimistic mood that their side have turned a corner after a largely unspectacular start to the campaign, and as such they are already relishing their team’s clash with Southampton in nine days’ time after the international break.

Nonetheless, there is still plenty for our resident Reds supporters to get their teeth into during the fortnight’s interruption, not least that the January transfer window opens in little over six weeks’ time, and manager Klopp may well look to delve into it in a bid to bolster his ranks.

The Merseyside giants are fifth in the Premier League table and have yet to book their place in the last 16 of the Champions League despite leading their group, so clearly much work is still needed to be done at Anfield to make the club competitive for major honours once again.

Thus, here are THREE areas that Liverpool must improve in January if they are to challenge for the title this season and in years to come…

Goalkeeping department

It seems to have been the talk of almost all recent transfer windows, but Liverpool really do need a more solid and reliable goalkeeper to seriously challenge for major titles.

Simon Mignolet is a decent shot-stopper but just makes a few too many errors to really command confidence from his backline, and aerially he doesn’t always deal well with crosses and corners into his penalty area.

Loris Karius was brought in by Klopp back in 2016 in a bid to become his next long-term number one, but the German youngster has also struggled, highlighted by the fact that his one and only Premier League appearance this season may well have been a 4-0 win, but he was regularly caught napping and lackadaisical in possession.

Thus, Klopp must look to bolster those ranks again, as on too many occasions in the last 18 months or so have goalkeeping errors stunted Liverpool’s momentum.

Centre-back options

Liverpool’s defensive woes have been well-documented and commented upon for many a while now, and they don’t seem to be improving much at all.

Both Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren have been guilty of making rookie mistakes this season which have led to soft goals, and with a tally of 17 goals against already this term, which is more than all but one side in the top half of the Premier League, things clearly need improving.

Both Stefan De Vrij and Virgil van Dijk have been linked with a move to Anfield, and if Liverpool are serious about mounting a title challenge, be it this season or in campaigns to come, they have to shore up their backline, starting in the coming January transfer window.

Central midfield area

With Emre Can’s future at Anfield far from certain, given that he has yet to pen a new deal with the club, Klopp may seek to bolster his central midfield options.

Captain Jordan Henderson has struggled with his form and indeed with injury throughout this campaign, while compatriot Adam Lallana hasn’t featured at all due to a thigh injury sustained back in August.

There have also been doubts about Georginio Wijnaldum’s and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s capabilities to perform at the level required on a consistent enough basis, and that all combines to leave Klopp with more questions than answers going forward.

Thus, bringing in another midfielder would compensate for Can’s likely departure, at the same time improving the current options at his disposal.