Paul Merson says teams are no longer scared of Liverpool
‘They are in major trouble’: Paul Merson says Liverpool’s failure to follow up their win over Man City with results against Nottingham Forest and Leeds is ‘inexcusable’… as Arsenal legend says teams are no longer ‘scared’ of them
- Liverpool have made dreadful start to the season sitting 15 points off the lead
- Jurgen Klopp’s side lost a second consecutive game on Saturday against Leeds
- Paul Merson puts their struggles down to fatigue and says they are not feared
Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson has criticised Liverpool for their start to the season and said that Jurgen Klopp’s side are no longer feared by opponents.
Klopp watched on on Saturday night as his team fell to a second consecutive defeat – their fourth of the season so far – against Leeds having lost against Nottingham Forest the weekend prior.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Merson declared Liverpool in ‘major trouble’ as they look to navigate their way out of the choppy waters and added that the tiredness the players are suffering from is also affecting their manager.
Jurgen Klopp has watched his side falter at various stages this season including on Saturday
‘To put in a performance like Liverpool did against Manchester City and then follow it up with defeats against Nottingham Forest and Leeds is inexcusable,’ Merson wrote. ‘Liverpool took one step forward and four steps back!
‘Only the players can put in a performance like they did against City and then the ones against Forest and Leeds. Only the players can tell you what was different on those occasions.’
Merson noted the performance – and result – against City had people thinking ‘here we go’, Liverpool are back. But their consecutive defeats has left them 15 points off the pace in the league and in trouble regarding the top four.
The Reds are languishing in ninth in the Premier League after Saturday’s loss against Leeds
Meanwhile, Merson wrote that sides no longer fear them.
‘Teams are not scared of Liverpool anymore. It’s slowly mirroring what happened with Old Trafford.
‘As a player I used to dread going to Manchester United. You used to play well there and still get beat, nowadays if you play well there you win. If you play well at Liverpool now there’s a strong chance you will win.’
Comparing their performances to their failed title defence in 2020-21, Merson said performances that season were ‘understandable’ after the lifting of the weight of expectation having won the league for the first time in 30 years.
However, he said that this season there are ‘no excuses’.
‘Liverpool are losing their fear factor, and this season is already worse than the season they defended the title. In 2020/21 they had just won the league for the first time in how many years. I could understand that season.
Liverpool fell to their fourth league defeat of the season and now sit 15 points off the lead
‘But it’s completely different now, Liverpool know that. They have that experience under their belts and there is no excuse for their performances this season.’
With questions beginning to creep up regarding Klopp’s future, Merson, however, said that any decision would ultimately be his.
‘Will Klopp be thinking he’s taken Liverpool as far as he can? I’m not sure, but one thing I am certain of is that it will ultimately be his decision. Liverpool have to keep him but whenever the time comes to make a decision, it will be his,’ he wrote.
‘Klopp is an elite manager, he’s not in the job to finish fourth in the league, for those kind of managers that is not success.
Merson said that the players and Klopp are fatigued and the stream of poor results isn’t helping
‘He will want change. I don’t think he has been backed that much, yes, they spent £85m on Darwin Nunez but that was one player, they need a few more if they are going to get back to where they were.’
Merson said that the constant run of poor results only adds to the fatigue of the players, inferring that it can become a vicious cycle of decline that becomes increasingly difficult to arrest.
‘Just like players, Klopp will be getting tired, and you get more tired when you are not winning games compared to when you are winning,’ he said.
‘You have got to remember that the majority of this group of players have been ripping it up for the last six years. That will eventually take its toll on any player, I don’t care who you are.’
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