Former Liverpool star Glen Johnson has explained what he thinks is the “biggest issue” at his old club - and agrees with a claim made by Gabby Agbonlahor.
The Reds suffered their third league defeat of the season at the weekend, as they were beaten 1-0 by Nottingham Forest. That result leaves Liverpool in eighth place in the Premier League table and five points outside the top four.
Jurgen Klopp was dealt several injury blows for the trip to the City Ground. Thiago Alcantara and Darwin Nunez were late absentees, while the likes of Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Naby Keita, Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate were also unavailable.
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Johnson believes that Liverpool’s squad is not big enough to cope with the intensity that Klopp demands from his players. The former Reds full-back went on to defend the medical department and backroom staff at Anfield amid the current injury problems.
“Liverpool's injuries are a bit of bad luck and poor squad management, they have a great backroom staff who look after the team through the data in training, who are likely to get injured, whose not, I wouldn't blame the staff,” Johnson told Midnite .
“The biggest issue is the squad is too light for the intensity Liverpool plays at, combined with the number of games they play, players are always going to break down.
“And because of the size of the squad, sometimes players who are about 75% fit have to replace the injured player and they might get a setback.”
Johnson also believes that Liverpool will not finish in the Champions League places this season, agreeing with ex-Aston Villa striker Agbonlahor in the process. Johnson went on to explain why he thinks finishing in the top four is unlikely for the Reds.
“Right now, yes I agree with Agbonlahor, Liverpool won’t reach the top four,” Johnson added.
“As we're having this conversation, there are technically nine better teams than Liverpool right now in terms of the table.
“But once they find a bit of form, of course, they will be around the top four, but those places look like they will be tough to achieve.”
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