Alan Shearer has ripped into Liverpool's defensive showing against Leeds United and believes a lack of protection from midfield is continuing to cost the Reds.
Goals from Rodrigo and Crysencio Summerville, either side of a Mohamed Salah equaliser, condemned Liverpool to their first Anfield defeat since March 2021, when victory for Scott Parker's Fulham side made it six consecutive home losses.
A lapse of communication from Joe Gomez and Alisson Becker ensured the Spaniard had precious little to do to notch his sixth goal of the Premier League season with just four minutes gone on Merseyside. The mistake set the tone for the rest of a forgettable night at Anfield as those in red struggled to execute the basics of the game and allowed Jesse Marsch's side to hang on in the contest before delivering the ultimate sucker punch late on.
READ MORE: Clueless Liverpool causing real alarm after Jurgen Klopp problems in Leeds defeat
LFC VERDICT: Liverpool player ratings as Fabinho dreadful again and six others really bad
But for Shearer, the Premier League's all-time leading goalscorer, the intensity in Liverpool's defending from midfield is not what it once was and is therefore allowing teams like Leeds United and Nottingham Forest to sit back and punish Klopp's men on the counter-attack.
Speaking on Saturday's edition of Match of the Day, he said: "Well, I thought it was going to kick-start their season after their performance against Manchester City, we saw the energy. They were fortunate to beat West Ham, West Ham missed a penalty. Then they go to Forest last week and get a poor result. And then, of course, this result here.
"Defensively they have been so poor. There is a lack of protection. Too many errors. I mean this is just a crazy error from Gomez, he doesn't even look. Not once does he look where his goalkeeper is. You just can't do that at all. Rodrigo is quick to react and he gets a simple tap-in for him. Basic error, you shouldn't do that at all.
"But this is more worrying, from a free-kick, one long ball, take a touch, no pressure on the ball, whip it in, Aaronson comes from nowhere. Again, that should be in the back of the net. Too many chances, too easy to get through. A lack of protection."
He added: "Look at the numbers Leeds are trying to get forward, four-on-two. Yes, really good play from Leeds but one-on-one at the back again from an attack from Liverpool. They are so slow in the turnover of possession. I know Liverpool created chances but so did Leeds. The winning goal; poor clearance, three of them on him there. There is nothing, no pressure on the ball. Got to stop the cross. It's far too easy from Van Dijk, he stands off him. Got to get closer to him. What a moment for Summerville.
"I know I have said it before this season but they didn't half look a yard slow."
Following the defeat against then bottom-of-the-table Nottingham Forest seven days earlier, the loss at Anfield represents the lowest point of Liverpool's woeful 2022/23 campaign. There will be further irritation with the result due to Chelsea suffering an unexpected first defeat of Graham Potter's reign as they were thrashed 4-1 by his old club Brighton. Meaning if Klopp's side had claimed victory on Saturday evening they would have moved to within two points of the Londoners.
It means Liverpool now sit well below the European places, just days after qualifying for the Champions knockout stages, and are eight points behind high-flying Newcastle United who occupy the final Champions League position. Next up for Klopp's side is a visit to Tottenham Hotspur
READ NEXT
