Alan Shearer has taken aim at a cluster of Liverpool's senior stars for their below par performances - including Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.
The Reds are in a difficult patch at present having dropped more points again on Saturday in a shoddy showing at home to Brighton and Hove Albion. Jurgen Klopp's side found themselves two-nil down before mounting a comeback to take the lead, only to let it slip and settle for a point.
Brighton's Leandro Trossard became only the third player in Premier League history to leave Anfield with the match ball after his hat-trick, assisted largely by some poor defending in Liverpool's backline. But Shearer feels it is not just the Reds' defence which need to take a long hard look at themselves as he honed in on several stars with his scathing criticism.
Speaking on BBC's Match of the Day, Shearer said: " Liverpool looked very leggy, lethargic and tired. If it was a one-off you would sort of accept it but it has happened a few times this season.
"Trent Alexander-Arnold has taken some criticism for his defending and rightly so at times before it hasn't been good enough, but others need to take responsibility - Van Dijk, [Jordan] Henderson, [Joel] Matip, Thiago, Mo Salah.
"We're so used to over the years looking at Liverpool and looking at the way they press with the high energy, there was none of that. Liverpool at times couldn't cope with them [Brighton]. They should have been 4-0 down after half an hour."
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Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson is one of the few players to emerge from Saturday's fixture with any credit after making several stops to keep his side in the game. Roberto Firmino then bagged a brace to pull the Reds back level before Adam Webster's own goal looked to have earned Liverpool a victory, prior to Trossard completing his treble.
Salah has come under scrutiny for his disappointing displays, having only found the net twice so far this campaign - a problem felt more so given Sadio Mane is no longer at the club to share the burden of expectation. Van Dijk has also been a shadow of the player we have seen in recent seasons, with Liverpool winning just three of their nine matches in all competitions thus far this campaign, but the Dutchman is "confident" they can reverse their fortunes.
“Obviously, we’ve had some setbacks, and it is difficult to react the right way if you are not in the best possible shape, all of us,” he said. “But I’m confident that we will be. What is it, four months ago we were playing for all the titles? Now we are not in the best moment, but we will get there.
“I’m confident, I am confident we will turn this around. We have to find that moment, and obviously we know we have tough games ahead. Rangers in the Champions League, then Arsenal, Rangers, [Manchester] City.
“So let’s just go for it, get the confidence back, get the consistency back and yeah we know we will get there.”
