Liverpool: Chelsea defender Gary Cahill will make a difference if he moves to Anfield says Danny Murphy

Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy believes Chelsea star defender Gary Cahill will make a difference for the Reds if Jurgen Klopp can manage to secure the services of the centre-back before the end of the January transfer window. The 30-year-old player started in only one league fixture since Guus Hiddink replaced Jose Mourinho in December, as the latter was relieved from his position at Stamford Bridge.

The England international signed a new deal eight weeks ago as he committed his future to the west London club. However, lack of playing time under the Blues' first-team interim manager has raised questions over his future.

Cahill's situation at Chelsea has alerted other clubs, as the Evening Standard reports Italian outfit AS Roma are looking at the possibility of landing him to strengthen their back four for the second half of the season. Murphy, who played for Liverpool, claims the 30-year-old is competing for a place in England's back four and lack of playing time at Chelsea will only make it difficult for him to get into the starting line-up for the summer's European championship.

"Gary Cahill is competing with John Stones and Chris Smalling for a place in the England line-up, for me," Murphy told talkSPORT. "And there's one thing for sure, that if he stays on the bench for the rest of the season at Chelsea, he's not going to oust either of them from the team.

"The question mark is would Chelsea let him go? And if they would, who needs him and who could pay the money for him? He only recently signed a new Chelsea contract and he's on a good wage.

"Would he suit Liverpool? Would he be a player that gets into the Liverpool team and make a difference? Yes, he would. He's a terrific lad, a good pro, a good trainer and not a moaner or a whinger.

"I completely understand why he might want to move, if that is true. At his age it could be his last big championships in an England shirt, and I like that attitude that he's desperate to play for his country.

"Can he perform to the levels we know he can in a different shirt, for a different club? Yeah, of course he can."

"He's a winner and every time I see him play I think he'd die for the team, he gives it everything he's got. If he does become available, there a few clubs would pay good money for him," he stressed.