Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville highlighted Liverpool's midfield issues once again after another struggle in the 2-1 win at home to Leicester on Friday evening.
The Reds closed the gap from Tottenham Hotspur in fourth to just two points, thanks to a pair of Wout Faes own-goals. It was a far from vintage performance from Jurgen Klopp's side, and the problems in midfield - which have been present throughout the season - were highlighted inside four minutes when Kieran Dewsbury-Hall raced through a gaping whole to slot the opener past Alisson Becker.
The ease with which the Foxes man raced through midfield was symptomatic of a campaign in which Liverpool have been uncharacteristically leggy in the middle of the park. Friday evening's game was not helped by the absence of Fabinho - away for the imminent birth of his first child - but typified a position in Klopp's typically relentless energy has been missing.
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And, speaking after the result on Friday, Carragher and Neville highlighted the shortcomings in the Liverpool midfield.
"They are getting played through and there is too much space in and around them, that’s something they’ll look at but they’re digging results out," Neville told Sky Sports. "The balance of midfield isn’t right, they have injuries but it’s something they’ll have to deal with. Liverpool were a ferocious team out of possession, brilliant in possession, there’s something they were doing a couple of years ago which they aren't doing now.
"The Mane and Salah runs they used to make, those powerful, quick inside runs, we don’t see as many of them any more. I'm not sure what’s happened but something, a dynamic has changed. Nunez coming in, Diaz injured, Jota injured, that could be a result of that but Liverpool are just working out where they are after a fixed 11 for three years."
Carragher added: "It feels to me that the midfield has morphed into more of a technical midfield rather than a high energy midfield and that’s what happens when you lose that Wijnaldum figure alongside a holding midfielder. Right now, Liverpool tonight had Jordan Henderson - who isn’t as energetic as three or four years ago - but then the technical player like Thiago - and Harvey Elliott, Carvalho has played there at times.
"This midfield isn’t what you expect or what Jurgen Klopp really wants. It’s not just about certain players and a certain age, because the younger players are more technical than high energy and I talk about Harvey Elliott and Carvalho, it feels like Liverpool’s midfield isn’t high energy.
"There’s talk of looking to bring in Jude Bellingham, why wouldn’t you, he’s a great player but they also need another midfielder to help them defensively. Bellingham is a midfielder who likes to get forward, score goals and assists and it would be fantastic if Liverpool could get him but they need a Wijnaldum figure to come in in the summer."
Fabinho's absence, which came at such short notice, undoubtedly made matters worse, with Klopp deciding to move the dependable Jordan Henderson back into the more defensive role. And while the Reds captain was never short of effort, Neville - who coached Henderson during his time as assistant with the England squad - pointed out the importance of the midfielder's pressing in a more advanced role.
"I’ve always thought Jordan wasn’t his best in the holding of a three in midfield," the former Manchester United man added. "I thought that when I was with England as a coach and I think that now. In the World Cup when you had Declan Rice sitting and Jude Bellingham and Jordan Henderson to the right, Henderson is better when he’s on top of the game, getting forward, pressing, willing.
"He’s not at his best when he’s having the ball delivered to him and he’s on the half turn, his passing range is good but not as good as players who play in that position. He’s someone who can play higher in that position like he played for England, today he played there but it’s not his best position."
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