Souness believes Klopp has major problems in his squad (Picture: Getty/Sky Sports)
Graeme Souness has major concerns over Liverpool’s midfield after witnessing his old side get ‘bullied’ against Leeds United.
Liverpool fell to their fourth league defeat of the season on Saturday night after a 2-1 defeat at Anfield – a second consecutive defeat to a side in the bottom two after losing at Nottingham Forest last weekend.
Having seen Jurgen Klopp’s side relentlessly dominant teams over the last four seasons, former midfielder Souness believes that fear factor they carried has now disappeared, describing the club as a ‘shadow’.
‘You can say it was a lucky first goal, but that’s not the reason Liverpool lost the game, Liverpool were a country mile from where they were in the last few years,’ he told Sky Sports.
‘They don’t play with the same intensity. I think, in many instances tonight, Leeds were more than a match for what Liverpool had been doing to teams for years. They basically bullied teams Liverpool, the midfield bullied teams.
‘Now they’re being bullied in midfield, it’s making them vulnerable at the back and they’re not creating the same chances up front. Liverpool are a shadow.’
Liverpool’s regular midfield of Jordan Henderson (31), Thiago Alcantara (31) and Fabinho (29) has been criticised this season with a lack of adequate cover heightening concerns.
Crysencio Summerville scored a last gasp winner (Picture: Getty)
Having had fears over aging midfield options heading into the season, Souness believes their first-choice options have seen better days are are no longer ‘in a position where they are going to win big trophies.’
‘When you look at the midfield: Thiago 31, Henderson 31, Fabinho 29. After that you’ve got Keita 27, Oxlade-Chamberlain, who’s been out injured, 29, Curtis Jones who’s 21 and Harvey Elliott who is 19.
‘ If you go back to the start of the season, Jurgen must’ve looked at his midfield and thought ‘we’re vulnerable here’ because with the age group, the chances are they’ll get muscle injuries. After that, you’ve got the two young boys.
‘The Premier League is a hard league to play in and is a long, difficult, nine months for you.
‘To expect two young lads to come in and take you through when senior players are injured is a big ask.
‘Harvey Elliott has played in almost all the games. I’ve said this since the start of the season, I felt the midfield is no longer the midfield that can get them into the position where they’re going to win the big trophies.’
MORE : Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp reacts to Leeds United defeat as unbeaten run at Anfield is ended
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Souness described Liverpool as a ‘shadow’ of their former selves.