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Liverpool Echo

Sport

John Aldridge

Liverpool sent Leandro Trossard transfer message as new 'quiet' problem emerges

Leandro Trossard Rangers Darwin Nunez Jurgen Klopp Echo Brighton (Organization) Arsenal

Liverpool's midfield looks unbalanced at the moment but that shouldn't be the case because they all know each other.

Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago, they were brilliant last year. We went so many games unbeaten and they were the main stays in midfield so that shouldn't be a problem. What's happening at the moment, I don't really know. They're just not at it and it's the manager's job to find out why.

But that said, on Saturday we still scored three goals, so you have to win the game. Whether it's at Anfield or away from home, if you score three times you've got to be walking away with the points. The game management has got to better. When you go 3-2 up after being 2-0 down you just see it out. Let them come onto us a little bit and then hit them on the break and get the fourth goal. We went too hung go and left ourselves open. Brighton were very good. Their finishing was excellent.

Hat-trick scorer should have been on Klopp's radar

Leandro Trossard found the net three times against Liverpool on Saturday and I thought he was the best player on the pitch when we played them in the same fixture last season. He got them back in the game. I thought we might have been linked with him in the summer, because as far as I'm concerned he's right up Liverpool's street.

Reds need more talkers to avoid uphill struggles

Liverpool might have lacked energy early on when they fell two goals behind to Brighton early on, but you can't say that was the case as they overturned the score line to lead 3-2. There was a lot of energy and a lot of great play. They showed brilliance, like they did against Ajax and Newcastle. It was incredible to get back in the game but we shouldn't be going behind.

I think we need to see a bit more leadership on the pitch all around. There needs to be more talking. It's a very quiet team. Early on there was no talking at all. We looked like an old team, until we came out of our shell and got back to what we're good at.

As a Liverpool fan you've got to be honest and reset expectations a little. It's going to be extremely difficult now. We've got Arsenal coming up and Man City. If you want to get back into the race you've got to win those two games. It's as simple as that. If we want to make a point and get our confidence back, we have to go to Arsenal and get a result like we have done the last few years. But they're a much better team now and better equipped to deal with us the way we are at the moment.

These games coming up are huge but I do think we can go to the Emirates and get a result, if we can defend. If we carry on defending as we have been at the moment, we won't get anything against either them or Manchester City, but there's got to be a turnaround. We've got to start getting clean sheets. 1-0s and 2-0s are brilliant, you can't be winning games 3-2 and 4-3 and letting teams score all the time. We got back into the race last season by going on a run and getting about eight clean sheets on the bounce. It's the same four players at the back with the same goalkeeper. They've got to get back to doing what they've done so well. A couple of clean sheets gives a lot of confidence.

Rangers exciting to watch but Reds must win

Every game is different, but there's no easy ones. Rangers haven't started the Champions League very well, but they can be a danger. They got to the final of the Europa League last season and they've got some really good players. They're quite exciting to watch. But if we play the way we can and attack the way we can then we should win the game.

There will be a few changes, I think Nunez will play and Bobby (Firmino) will be rested. Jota might play as well but we'll have to wait and see.

Anfield Road mural a true honour

I couldn't let my ECHO column pass this week without expressing how proud I am to have been recognised with my own mural outside the redeveloped Anfield Road Stand. I went to visit it with family before the Brighton match and I have to say I was delighted with it and extremely grateful.

As a lifelong Liverpool supporter, the club is in my blood. I was lucky enough to represent the team I love and scored 63 goals in 104 appearances. It really means a lot to me and my family to be acknowledged in this way. It is something I will always treasure.

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