Former Aston Villa forward and current pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor may have just reignited his war of words with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp after taking aim at some of his players.
In what is one of the more bizarre football feuds in recent memory, the pair have been publicly sending jabs at each other since August of last year when Klopp took a disliking to Agbonlahor's brutal analysis of Manchester United. The Reds boss told reporters that he "couldn't remember him as a mentality monster on the pitch" when Liverpool battered Agbonlahor's Villa side in Klopp's first season.
In response, the ex-Villa striker questioned why Klopp made it personal before telling MailSport : "And the whole "Gabby who?" thing. Him pretending not to know my surname. Why? He has watched football. He will know my name."
There has been the occasional dig since, with Agbonlahor claiming he had 'rattled' the Liverpool manager earlier this month, but the ex-England international has now discussed Klopp once again and claimed he should be doing far better this term as Liverpool lay ninth in the table.
Speaking exclusively to Mirror Football and Grosvenor Casinos, Agbonlahor mentioned how Klopp is seemingly exempt from criticism, questioning the Reds boss' mentality before mentioning the Liverpool players who he feels are past it.
"I said last week that Jurgen Klopp has to take some responsibility because the group of players he's got available here, he needs to be getting more out of," he claimed.
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"If you're this mentality monster manager who gets the best out of players, motivates them, you shouldn't be losing to Brighton 3-0. You shouldn't be capitulating at stadiums like you are."
Everyone looking at this Liverpool side, whether that be a fan, pundit or opposition supporter can identify that the midfield is a problem area for Klopp's side and arguably has been since the departure of Georginio Wijnaldum in 2021.
Agbonlahor certainly seems to think so, as he issued a brutal review of the current options Liverpool boast in the middle of the park.
"You bring in Curtis Jones into the team, he’s not good enough for me for where Liverpool want to go, he’s not really taking his chance in midfield. Henderson's legs, Fabinho’s legs, Thiago's legs have all gone.
"When you play how Liverpool play, you need players to be younger or have more speed, more legs."
The Reds have been linked with a number of midfielders this month, but it is widely believed they will hold fire until the summer before breaking the bank to sign Borussia Dortmund superstar and England international Jude Bellingham.
