Carragher claims Liverpool need to fulfil role Klopp has never wanted


Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher believes his old side are suffering with the absence of a out and out ‘number 10’ who can “play the final pass”.

The Reds fell to a fifth-consecutive Premier League loss at Anfield, going down 1-0 toChelsea on Thursday night.

It was yet another match where Jurgen Klopp’s reigning champions struggled to create clear-cut opportunities. Indeed, they have now scored only once in their last six home games.

The Reds are also struggling to press their opponents with the same intensity of the past two seasons.

A crazy fixture schedule and injuries to key players are a strong excuse for those levels to drop. However, Carragher believes they’re lacking a natural number 10 who could offer them more creativity in the final third.

“I watched Gini Wijnaldum in the second-half get done on a one-two, they want to do things and they just can’t get there,” Carragher told Sky Sports.

“I don’t know if it’s the same players playing week-in, week-out, off the back of four or five years of high-intensity football. Who knows what it is?

“We’ll maybe nearly get to the bottom of it next season when we see the crowds back and maybe more of a normal season but they just don’t seem right in terms of energy and pace at the moment.

“Jurgen Klopp famously said, his pressing is better than any number 10, but when you watch Liverpool, you feel like they need a number 10 – they need that type of player because the pressing isn’t there.

“Teams have come and defended deep and they haven’t got anyone between the lines to play that pass, they have Coutinho who went and they built in other areas.

“I’m not saying they should go and buy that, but without the actual pressing quality they have now in terms of creating chances, they haven’t really got anyone who can make that final pass.”


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Salah agent drops cryptic tweet 

Mohamed Salah’s agent posted a cryptic message on Twitter after the Liverpool top-scorer was substituted in the 1-0 defeat against Chelsea.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp played down Salah’s reaction after he was substituted on the hour mark of the Anfield defeat which resulted in the club’s worst home league run in their history.

By the time the Premier League’s leading goalscorer was replaced by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain the hosts were already trailing to Mason Mount’s goal late in the first half.

Salah walked off shaking his head. And while Klopp says he did not see the reaction he said he took the Egypt international off as he was concerned about his fitness.

“When the boys look disappointed it is not a problem. I didn’t see what Mo did,” said Klopp.

“The reason for the sub was that, and I could have changed other players as well that’s true, but he looked in that moment that he really felt the intensity and I didn’t want to risk him.” Read more…

 





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