Saturday’s defeat on the south coast was the latest evidence to suggest there is an attitude problem affecting this Liverpool team.
They raised their levels against Manchester United to win 7-0 and then put in a limp display at Bournemouth, a ground that is not fit for the Premier League and should not be an intimidating place for opposition players.
We failed to match Bournemouth throughout the game and for Trent Alexander-Arnold to then come out afterwards and say the opposition wanted it more is alarming.
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A performance like we saw on Saturday is sadly nothing new this season as it has been happening time and time again away from home. We have won three league fixtures on the road since August, beating Aston Villa, Newcastle and Tottenham. Each of those grounds are tough places to play, but we managed to grind out three points. Liverpool are struggling to do the same against the lesser sides as they are not matching the desire and physicality of those teams. You have to fight tooth and nail.
Bournemouth were desperate for three points as they’re battling to stay in the league. We’re in a race of our own at the top end of the table and we’re doing it to stay in the Champions League. The players need to realise they can’t keep losing these games as there is too much at stake. Do they want to be in the Europa League next year? It will be so damaging for them if they fail to get in the Champions League.
Our defence has come in for most of the criticism this season, but what about the forwards? We didn’t score at Wolves, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Brighton and Palace. Scoring takes the pressure off those at the back, and they’re simply doing their team-mates no favours by failing to convert.
If I didn’t score in a match, I would go home raging with myself as that’s what I got paid to do. I felt like I hadn’t done my job and I would be hurt after the game. We are not getting the first goal enough away from home and that is killing us. Teams are just sitting back and hitting us on the break after scoring an opener.
There were a number of bad performances on Saturday, but I think that was Salah’s worst 90 minutes in a Liverpool shirt. From the first minute to the last, for whatever reason, it just wasn’t Mo Salah. The penalty aside, his actual performance was not like him and only he knows why that was the case. Sometimes you need to come off if you’re having a bad game, I’ve been there myself, but it was Darwin Nunez who made way.
Top four out of our hands again
As far as the fight for fourth goes, we got ourselves in a position to make it and we’ve messed it up again. It’s now out of our hands once again after Newcastle and Spurs both picked up three points in their games. Klopp probably can’t believe what he is seeing because what can he do when the players step over the white line?
If we are to qualify for the Champions League, we will have to beat Tottenham at Anfield on April 30. Our next away games are at Manchester City and Chelsea and we will be facing an uphill battle for fourth if we don’t turn up. Liverpool have the potential to go unbeaten, so show it. You don’t beat United 7-0 if you’re a bad team.
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