Liverpool's alarming slump has turned former players' punditry into appointment viewing, as a run of nine defeats in 12 matches triggers furious analysis from club legends. The nadir came with a second-half collapse at home to PSV in the Bigger Cup, marking a third consecutive three-goal defeat and prompting an outpouring of anger from alumni.
Dietmar Hamann, on Irish broadcaster RTE, branded Mo Salah's defensive indifference 'disgraceful' after the winger failed to track Mauro Júnior for PSV's second goal. He questioned whether manager Arne Slot must choose between keeping his job or dropping the star forward. Earlier on TalkSport, Graeme Souness mocked Salah's 'lack of appetite', suggesting his brother might have replaced him this season.
Jamie Carragher's off-air meltdown was leaked to social media, showing him screaming at Ibrahima Konaté: 'What the eff is going on? ... That's a sackable offence for the manager for keeping picking him.' On CBS's Bigger Cup coverage, he later criticised Curtis Jones for not doing his talking on the pitch. Steven Gerrard, on TNT Sports, noted Liverpool are 'conceding too many goals, they're wide open, they're vulnerable and unstable', adding that the defensive line of Jones, Gravenberch, Van Dijk and Kerkez 'is not a Liverpool back four and never will be'.
On Match of the Day, Stephen Warnock offered perspective, suggesting the team may still be grieving the tragic loss of Diogo Jota. 'There is still a hangover from what happened in the summer ... It is hard to find that drive again because they are still grieving,' he said. While formations can be tweaked, the emotional impact remains a factor.
