Jamie Carragher says Liverpool are struggling to match the intensity of teams they come up against this season.
Carragher was commentating on Liverpool’s loss against Leeds United this evening for Sky Sports. And as the pressure grew on the Reds in the second half, the pundit noticed a worrying trend.
“That has been a feature of Liverpool this season, where they haven’t been able to match the opposition when they come up against really intense teams,” said the former Reds centre-back.
“Think back to the Napoli game, Man United, Arsenal second half. Physicality wise, they haven’t been able to cope. That’ll be a worry for Jurgen Klopp.”
It certainly is a worry. Once more against Leeds, Liverpool looked second best to far too much. Another deserved loss against a lowly team.
Liverpool looking shattered, again
Carragher’s comments came at a time when it looked inevitable that Liverpool would concede a second goal.
Unfathomably, the Reds came out for the second half against Leeds and just couldn’t get on the ball. Wave after wave of Leeds attack came at them.
You could have been forgiven for thinking that those in white were playing in-front of their home crowd.
In the end, that second goal didn’t come. Not immediately, anyway. Liverpool somehow rode the storm and came back into the game, only to suffer heartbreak at the end.
Every time Liverpool have faced a team willing to outrun them this season, they just looked absolutely shattered.
After so many years of seeing Jurgen Klopp’s team win these physical battles, they can’t seem to get up for them right now. Years of relentless running look to have finally taken their toll.
It’s understandable, but it also isn’t good enough. Had the squad been refreshed as it should have been, this could have been avoided. Another shocking defeat and Liverpool look dead and buried right now.
We need the World Cup break, and we need it now.
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