Pat Nevin has been left shocked by Liverpool’s current position in the Premier League and he has pointed out where his former rivals are at their weakest.
The Premier League table ought to be viewed with context because while Liverpool are in eight place, their points tally is only two worse off than third place Chelsea.
However, being so low in the league is not what would have been expected after Liverpool spent big on summer transfers.
It is also important to remember that while Liverpool are close to the majority of the teams above them, just three points separate Arne Slot’s men from Everton, who are in 13th.
Nevin, who used to play for the blue side of the city, has placed some of the blame for Liverpool’s struggles on their transfer business in the summer.
He told BBC Sport: “Everyone is looking for the cause of the problem. Certainly the planned revolution rather than evolution of the squad by Arne Slot this summer, has unsettled the group.”
Another reason for Liverpool’s downfall is the performances of Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian goal machine has delighted the Anfield faithful over the years with his magical displays, but he is clearly getting towards the back end of his career.
Salah may be the club’s top scorer in the Premier League, but while in times past, he had the ability to transform an entire team, the 33-year-old has been unable to bail out Liverpool from their current situation.
“Mohamed Salah is not getting them out of the holes the way he has regularly done in the past either – his four league goals so far is a respectable return but not his usual super-human level,” Nevin continued.
These issues, however, are only segments of the overall problem at Liverpool and according to Nevin there is a greater concern which is costing them dearly.
The concern in question is the midfield, which the former Scotland international has branded ‘sluggish and lumbering’.
He added: “But it is the way their midfield has been made to look sluggish and lumbering that is a concern. That is not who they are – they are young and vibrant. Slot has to make sure the display we witnessed in the first 45 minutes at Manchester City does not recur.”
Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City was their joint heaviest of the season in all competitions, but their very worst in the Premier League.
Slot will have his work cut out for him after the international break, as he must look to sort out Liverpool’s midfield messes in order to return his team to winning ways.
