Liverpool once again failed to collect three Premier League points today as they drew 3-3 with Brighton at Anfield.
The result continues Liverpool’s desperately poor start to the season. Now with just two wins from their opening seven matches, they trail pace-setters Arsenal by 11 points.
There are a variety of reasons for the Reds disappointing start to the campaign. But the sight of Jurgen Klopp subbing James Milner on at left-back for the final half an hour of a game they needed a goal in really summed up the issues.
Relying on aging players? Tick. Lack of depth from the bench? Tick. Short of ideas? Tick.
Liverpool out of form and out of ideas
It may seem unfair to pin all this on Milner, and it isn’t to say he played especially poorly. After all, Liverpool did score just four minutes after his 59th minute introduction.
Rather, the fact that Klopp is turning to the 36-year-old when chasing a goal is indicative of the Reds’ wider issues.
Milner was brought on not in his natural position. He was also up against Brighton’s best player on the day in Leandro Trossard. That kind of muddled thinking really sums up where Liverpool, and Klopp, seem to be right now.
With things going against them consistently, there doesn’t seem to be a plan B. Heck, there rarely looks to be a plan A at times.
On Saturday afternoon, Klopp had Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota on the bench. Diaz came on at half time, granted, but with the score at 2-2 and half an hour left, surely Jota or Nunez would have been a better call.
Surely a switch to a slightly more attacking formation may give the Reds a better chance of winning. With Brighton opening Liverpool up so easily, perhaps a flat midfield two would also give them more solidity?
Instead, Klopp opted to change his left-back for a veteran midfielder. Tsimikas wasn’t playing well, that much is true, but he still must have been immensely disappointed to see his number come up.
Inevitably, Trossard popped up in Milner’s vicinity to score the equalising goal. It was no less than Brighton deserved as they come away from Anfield with something for the third season running. For Liverpool, they need to clear their heads and find a way out of this slump.
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