Bacary Sagna believes Liverpool cannot drop any more points before the World Cup if they are to make the top-four.
The Reds have endured a slow start to the new campaign, with just two wins and nine points from their opening six league games - they are already nine points short of Arsenal and eight behind Manchester City and Tottenham. Injuries have hampered any hope of consistency since the opening weekend, but a drop in form for several key players under Jurgen Klopp has been cause for concern.
Whether the early international break helps or hinders those problems remains to be seen, but a period of rest for the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah - who were both left out of their respective national team squads for the most recent games - could provide the antidote to the fatigue stemming from last season’s mammoth campaign.
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The opening six weeks of this season is arguably the only consistent drop in form over the last five years that wasn’t as a direct result of an injury crisis. And former France international Sagna believes the relentless efforts of the side over that period allow them some credit in the bank, adding that the ‘top players’ will play their way back into form.
"You can’t criticise LIverpool at all,” Sagna told Lord Ping. “Look at what the team has achieved over the last five years, all of the trophies that they have won and the quality of the football they have played. I think it would be silly to doubt Klopp after everything that he has done for the club. They have been so consistent.
“You know, with the standards that Liverpool have set, it is a surprise to see how they’ve started the season. Liverpool are a brilliant team. They need to work on a few things. I’m not worried about Liverpool at all. They have top players and they will find the right balance in the team soon. When they do that, they will come back, and I think they can still have a great season."
But despite Sagna’s optimism, the 39-year-old admitted he is concerned for Liverpool’s top-four prospects, with the likes of Tottenham and Arsenal starting to well and Manchester City looking unstoppable - adding that Klopp’s side cannot afford to drop any more points before the league breaks for the World Cup in November.
"I do think Liverpool are the team who could fall out of the top four this season based on the opening seven matches so far, simply because they have dropped quite a few points already,” the former right-back added. “Liverpool can’t afford to drop any more points at the moment.
“Now, the league will really go quickly before it breaks for the World Cup. Liverpool don’t want to be in a position where they are a long way behind when the league stops in November. It won’t be easy to restart the season after the World Cup - they need to stay within touching distance of the other teams."
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