Gary Neville has dismissed the idea Liverpool are falling short of usual standards as a result of relentless title races with Manchester City.
The Reds have battled it out for top spot with Pep Guardiola's side in three Premier League seasons, winning on one occasion and missing out by a single point the other two times. After being denied the title on the final day of the 2018/19 season, Jurgen Klopp's men rallied the following campaign and steamrolled their way to glory. A similar scenario has not played out this term on the back of coming so close last year, with Liverpool struggling to find and kind of form.
Injuries to key players has certainly not helped the Reds' chances of challenging for the league, but a lack of investment in midfield could be argued as the biggest factor behind the demise of the team. Exposed in this department time and time again this term, a failure to invest in new personnel in this area is looking to be a major oversight.
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Klopp admitted ahead of Saturday's defeat at Brighton the club's 63-game campaign had taken its toll on his players, who were pushed to their maximum as they chased a historic quadrupled. Asked if he believes Liverpool's form can be explained by the team being pushed to their limit over recent years, Neville responded: "I don't know about that because I was at Manchester United for 20 years, under a manager who demanded that effort every day and there were a group of players who were there for ten or 15 years.
"There was the odd season of a dip and that could be this. It is stark sometimes to see it because they are a mess at the back, they look like you could score a goal against them every single attack and they're going to have to regroup. It is really odd and strange because we couldn't speak anymore highly of Jurgen Klopp and what he has done at Liverpool and the effort he has extracted from his team."
A change of ownership may well have occurred by the time next season comes around, which could enable the Reds to compete with their Premier League rivals in the transfer market. Chelsea have spent in excess of £400million since their takeover in May, and Neville is of the view Klopp could cause serious damage if provided with similar funds to strengthen his side.
"Jurgen Klopp is not the type to shirk it at all, he is a massive character. I think he has put in an unbelievable managerial performance, equal to or better than Pep Guardiola in this last seven years, with what he has done at Liverpool. How much is it Chelsea have spent now, £300million? If Jurgen Klopp can get that level of money from new owners and spends it as wisely as he has done for the last eight years, he will be empowered next season to go and transform that team. I don't think of him seeing this as the end, I think he will see it as a new beginning.
"Because of the credit he has built up, you're not going to stick the boot in. You are going to be critical of them as they are defending really poorly, they are too easy to play against and they are poor in midfield. Salah is not is not what he was in previous seasons, Mane has gone and the others are a little rugged and raw around the edges. There are things you could argue are going against Klopp, there is no doubt."
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