An alarming drop in the Reds’ overall performance levels has been witnessed, and a club legend suggests the problem lies in attack.
Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino have lost their cutting edge in the final third and it’s up to Jurgen Klopp to help them rediscover their form, according to Steve Nicol.
A 1-0 defeat to Southampton on Monday marked the latest entry in a series of disappointing results for Liverpool.
The Reds are winless in their last three Premier League outings and have already dropped more points than they did in their entire title-winning campaign in 2019-20.
Doubts have been raised as to whether the champions, who have been held to a draw by relegation-threatened sides, are capable of defending their crown, especially considering their defensive injury crisis.
Nicol, however, believes it is their attack that is at fault, with Jurgen Klopp’s men have scored just one goal in their last three games.
“I think it’s pretty clear where the problems are. It’s upfront,” the ex-Reds defender told ESPN. “The front three are not producing, not delivering… they’re not even creating!
“The fact is Klopp now has to have a quiet word and a clever word with the front three.
“Sometimes it’s just about a little nugget that you give a player. Like Mane, why don’t you say to him you’re standing in the box. You’re standing with your back to goal all the time. Can you get yourself on the half-turn?
“Salah is the same. Always looking to run in or be standing in the box. Why don’t you stand a little wider, a little deeper?
“It’s all these little nuggets that make the difference, with the front three in particular. The rest of it is okay.”
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