Premier League legend Alan Shearer has delivered a scathing assessment of Liverpool's faltering squad, publicly siding with fellow pundit Jamie Carragher in a growing row over the performances of key players.
Anfield in Crisis
The criticism comes as Liverpool have lost nine of their last 12 games in all competitions, creating intense pressure on new manager Arne Slot. The team's alarming collapse includes back-to-back defeats at their famous home ground, Anfield. First, they suffered a humiliating 3-0 loss to struggling Nottingham Forest, before being thrashed 4-1 by PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League.
This dire run of results has seen the odds tumble on Slot being relieved of his duties, with former Reds midfielder Xabi Alonso reportedly among the favourites with bookmakers to potentially take over.
Shearer's Blunt Verdict
Speaking to Betfair, Shearer did not hold back, stating that the manner of the defeats is the most damaging aspect for the club. He argued that while unlucky losses can be accepted, the current performances point to deeper issues.
"They’re all over the place," Shearer said. "If it was one problem, maybe you could fix it, but there’s issues all over the pitch. In forward positions they look devoid of ideas."
He specifically highlighted major defensive worries, pointing out the team's struggle for a reliable right-back and the poor form of defender Milos Kerkez. Shearer then turned his attention to the team's leaders, captain Virgil van Dijk and star forward Mohamed Salah.
Captain and Star Forward Under Fire
Shearer expressed particular concern about van Dijk, noting that the defender looks "leggy, slow, puzzled" and is a "shadow of the player from last season." He stated that the same could be said for his centre-back partner, Ibrahima Konaté.
"You look to your captain to put in big performances," Shearer remarked, referencing van Dijk's recent comments about the team needing to fight. "Well, he’s got to lead by example, and at the minute, he’s a shadow of himself."
Regarding Mohamed Salah, Shearer aligned himself with Jamie Carragher's recent criticism. Carragher had pointed out that Salah is often quick to speak after winning individual awards or during contract talks, but Shearer believes the time for talking is over.
"Whether you do interviews or not is irrelevant, you do your talking with performances," Shearer asserted. "Salah isn’t doing that, Van Dijk isn’t, and many others aren’t either. That’s the real concern."
With the festive football period approaching, the pressure is mounting at Anfield, and the calls for key players to rediscover their form have never been louder.
