Conor Coady would be a "ready-made" replacement for Virgil van Dijk as Liverpool look for a new centre-back, according to former Reds defender Mark Lawrenson.

Van Dijk is expected to miss the entirety of the 2020-21 campaign with the serious knee injury that he picked up during the Merseyside derby with Everton on October 17.

Brighton & Hove Albion's Ben White, RB Leipzig's Dayot Upamecano and Schalke 04's Ozan Kabak have all been linked with moves to Anfield over the last few days.

However, Lawrenson has claimed that Coady's organisational skills and experience in the Premier League makes him an ideal signing for the Premier League champions.

"I would think Virgil will be out for the season. I think it's a write-off because you've got to get match fit and that's almost impossible nowadays because they don't play reserve team football," Lawrenson told The Argus.

"If Liverpool are going to pay big money for somebody in January, they want absolutely ready-made. Conor Coady has had loads of shouts and he is a very good organiser who has played lots of games in the Premier League."

The 27-year-old came through the youth system at Liverpool but only made two first-team appearances for the club before leaving permanently for Huddersfield Town in 2014.