Liverpool icon tells three Reds stars to step up after fourth straight loss
Liverpool have misplaced their final 4 video games within the Premier League, with a defeat at Brentford seeing them drop out of the highest 4 within the desk for the primary time this season
View 2 PhotosFormer Liverpool star Steve McManaman referred to as on Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Florian Wirtz to take criticism on the chin and assist drag the Reds out of their present droop. The reigning Premier League champions misplaced a fourth straight Premier League recreation, falling to a 3-2 reverse at Brentford after defeats in opposition to Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Manchester United.
Dango Ouattara and Kevin Schade opened up a 2-0 lead for the Bees as half-time approached, just for Milos Kerkez to tug one again in first-half stoppage-time. Igor Thiago scored a 3rd for the hosts, changing from the penalty spot after Van Dijk's foul on Ouattara was dominated to have taken place simply contained in the field, and Salah's late aim wasn't sufficient to rescue the guests.
"Liverpool made a little bit of a combat of it within the final 10 minutes when Mo Salah scored," McManaman mentioned throughout TNT Sports activities' protection. "On the finish of the sport there have been a few little half-chances however that's brushing over the truth that Liverpool have been crushed tonight, and Liverpool are usually not taking part in effectively, they're simply taking part in as people.
"They're not miles off it however they aren’t taking part in like they did final 12 months. They're simply ready for moments of magic at instances by numerous individuals. They're not taking part in as a unit, they're very open and so they begin to panic, so the soccer could be very chaotic.
"They should get again to what they did final 12 months, and the great a part of final 12 months, and play as a unit and play collectively, nevertheless it's simply all hit or miss at this second in time. Everyone's working spherical far and wide, they're not strong in midfield as a result of they're attempting to jam gamers in there… and he [Slot] has to return, as I discussed at half-time, to the gamers he actually trusts, who he is aware of can do it.
READ MORE: Why Liverpool conceded penalty in opposition to Brentford as controversial VAR intervention explainedREAD MORE: Liverpool tipped for January double switch after Virgil van Dijk feedback
He continued: "They've acquired dwelling video games arising and so they have to show this round, however they’d all of the platitudes and all of the plaudits final 12 months after they have been profitable video games and so they have been profitable the league simply. Now they should take the criticism on the chin, it's so simple as that, and so they have to reply.
"Mo Salah wants criticism on the chin, Virgil van Dijk must take it, Florian Wirtz must take it. £100m has been spent on him, he must take it, and you realize what, they’ve to reply."
View 2 PhotosMcManaman's criticism of Liverpool was in stark distinction to his evaluation of Brentford. Keith Andrews' facet have now received back-to-back league video games for the primary time beneath their new boss, after a snug win at West Ham on Monday evening.
"They've acquired a recreation plan, they persist with it, they work laborious, they've acquired a cohesiveness collectively, they know what their strengths are and so they play to their strengths. And so they acquired their simply rewards at this time," McManaman mentioned.
Liverpool's defeat means they’ll finish a weekend exterior the highest 4 for the primary time this season, and are simply two factors forward of Brentford. Their subsequent three video games are all at Anfield – in opposition to Crystal Palace within the Carabao Cup, Aston Villa within the league and Actual Madrid within the Champions League – with their subsequent away recreation coming in opposition to Manchester Metropolis on November 9.
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