Liverpool may have to battle and scrap to retain their title.
The Premier League winners stormed to victory last term as they left rivals Manchester City in their dust as they won the league for the first time in 30 years.
Supporters will be hoping that they can do the same again, but it won't be easy.
Jurgen Klopp has already had to contend with an injury to goalkeeper Allisson this term but is now facing the prospect of being without Virgil van Dijk for the duration of the season.
As a result Liverpool have resorted to playing young prospects such as Rhys Williams in central defence with options limited at best.
The Reds have done well so far to keep winning matches, but as the season unfolds the feeling is that this task will get harder and harder without their talisman in defence.
That means that the club may have to enter the transfer market in search of a replacement.
Several players have been linked with a move to the club, one of whom is Milan Skriniar.
ESPN are reporting that the Inter Milan defender is a player who Klopp could look to in order to bolster his defensive options.
The Slovakian was heavily linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur over the summer but the Italian side's asking price of £54million proved too costly.
That led Spurs to bring in Joe Rodon as a cheaper alternative.
With Skriniar still on the market it could pave the way for the Reds to make a move for the 27-year-old.
GIVEMESPORT'S Phil Spencer says...
This could be the perfect solution for Liverpool.
Virgil van Dijk is such a massive figure for the Reds as he's a true leader both on and off the pitch.
Without him Jurgen Klopp's side just don't look the same.
While they're winning matches at the moment it seems that clean sheets have been difficult to come by - something that could prove to be troublesome as the season unfolds.
If Klopp's team are serious about retaining their title then I think they will need to bring in another defender.
Whether that's on a permanent deal or just a loan switch, it's too much to ask to get their young players to perform at a level where they're going to win the title.
Milan Skriniar has plenty of experience and so he could be an ideal addition to the team.