Liverpool legend John Barnes has identified the biggest problem for his former club at the moment as they go through a period of transition under Jurgen Klopp.
The Reds look a long way from the team that came so close to quadrupling last season, as yesterday’s loss to Arsenal left them tenth in the Premier League table, with just two wins from eight games played.
Liverpool’s title challenge is surely over now, and there seem to be concerns almost everywhere on the pitch as none of their best players are performing at their best.
Speaking on Sky Sports in the video below, Barnes makes it clear that he believes the main problem is in midfield, with the profile of the player in that position now not giving the defense the sort of protection it used to…
Barnes says that while Fabinho and former Liverpool ace Georginio Wijnaldum used to be key players in that department, now we’re seeing more of the likes of Thiago Alcantara, Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho, which means Virgil van Dijk are a bit more exposed, and also that attack-minded full-backs like Trent Alexander-Arnold can’t play with the same kind of freedom as before.
“That defensive stability, for me, came from the three midfielders, which allowed Trent and Robbo to go forward: three hard-working midfielders and two centre-backs, you couldn’t get to our four defenders,” Barnes said.
“Now the profile is different, you have Harvey Elliott, you have Fabio Carvalho, Thiago Alcántara, who are good with the ball, but Arsenal, with less possession, had more opportunities in the Liverpool area because that midfield is not protecting the defending.
More stories / Last News
“The number of times Trent used to go forward, there was a midfielder covering him, whereas now when Trent goes forward, they go straight to our four defenders.
“The way we play is changing, it will take time to adapt.”
