Steven Gerrard has accused Liverpool of being 'too nice' and lacking a 'destroyer' in midfield, saying the next stage of Andoni Iraola's side must be to become harder to play against and show a different side to their game.
The Liverpool icon was speaking on TNT Sports after the Reds twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Nottingham Forest on Saturday. Goals from Alexander Isak and Victor Munoz kept Iraola unbeaten in the Anfield hotseat, but the wait for his first win since succeeding Arne Slot continues.
Gerrard's blunt assessment
Gerrard felt Liverpool were bypassed too easily in the first half against Forest, following on from last weekend's game at Newcastle United where Anthony Elanga and Joe Willock were allowed through the Reds defence too easily.
He said: "I think this is a Liverpool team that is a little bit too nice. They lack this destroyer, they don't win too many tackles, too many duels, they're a nice team, that's the next development for this Liverpool team."
Need for more aggression
Gerrard added: "They have to be more physical, more aggressive, they would have won last week, if they were a bit nastier, uglier to play against. Sometimes you win games a different play, Liverpool have got a lot of nice technical players, a lot of top talent in positions but lack a bit of nastiness."
"That's what the manager has to get in this team because if not, when the big prizes come out, Liverpool won't be there, they lack nastiness and a bit of oomph."
Not just one player
Gerrard stressed the issue runs through the whole squad: "It's not just one player, it's throughout the team. When teams come to Anfield, the first 45 pass them by, they're nice, they play nice passes, you've got to get the crowd behind you by being a nasty team as well."
Liverpool remain unbeaten under Iraola but have drawn two of their opening league games, with the search for a first win continuing.
