Jurgen Klopp’s side had been criticized for their lack of pace, intensity, and willingness to win this season.
Their talismans Mohamed Salah looks a pale shadow of himself after signing a bumper deal this summer than will see him stay at the club beyond 2026.
Liverpool had won only two Premier League games out of six Premier League games. Six-time Champions League winners were humiliated on Wednesday night at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium by Napoli in the Champions League.
Klopp’s side lost 4-1 to Napoli. What makes the defeat more embarrassing was that the Liverpool players lacked the desire to win.
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Graeme Souness claims the Liverpool players lack the energy and the desire to win.
What did Graeme Souness say are the reason behind Liverpool’s poor form?
“You can talk to all the modern coaches and analysts you like, apply the latest buzz terminology and fill these sports pages with all the data you can lay your hands on — but the one non-negotiable part of winning football matches is being first to the ball,The Scottish icon told the Daily Mail.
“At the moment, Liverpool is not doing that. And that’s why they are a mile off the team. We have known them to be in Jurgen Klopp’s time at the club.
“There are all sorts of reasons for this being offered by the people with the data and the big theories. They will tell you about the Liverpool high line. About Mo Salah not looking at the same player he was. About Trent Alexander-Arnold appearing to jog back when two of Napoli’s goals went in, during that 4-1 defeat on Wednesday night. But Liverpool just doesn’t seem to have the same energy.
“I’ve certainly not been seeing the same, Salah. He has signed the big contract he wanted, and I hope we are not seeing him getting semi-into his armchair because of that.
“The need for intensity is a collective thing. It has always been that way, going back to my time as a player at the club. They like to call it ‘pressing’ now, but when I was playing, we just called it ‘closing down. If one person is not doing it, the whole system breaks down and you might as well drop off and be a team that plays counter-attacking football.”
The 69-year-old believes Liverpool needs a strong and experienced defender in their team.
“It’s certainly my view Liverpool needs another battle-hardened, experienced midfielder at the core of their team, to pick the pass and capitalize on the movement of the strikers.
“Klopp said he didn’t need that big-name addition this summer. He listed the young players he says can step up and do a job for him. It’s good to hear that he has faith in lads such as Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones.
“That’s great news for every young player at Liverpool. But this is a hard and unforgiving environment we are talking about. It’s a big jump from midfielders like Thiago, who’s 31, Jordan Henderson, 32, and James Milner, 36, to those young ones.
“There’s no doubting the quality of Liverpool’s latest addition, Arthur Melo, but will he be able to deal with the intensity of the English game, given that Liverpool plays games of cup final intensity every weekend and everyone always has to be at it?”
Liverpool has made the signing of Jude Bellingham their priority next summer but may face strong competition from Real Madrid.
