Danny Murphy insists Liverpool’s problem this season is a mental one and NOT a lack of quality in their squad.
The former Red admits that Premier League title is already ‘gone’ after just eight gamesThey have been backed by the company for a top four finish amid claims that players are still recovering from last season’s traumatic near misses and a hangover for big silverware.
It’s hard to see that this current struggling Liverpool team is practically the same – minus Sadio Mane – side that was two results away from an unprecedented quadruple last term.
Murphy acknowledges that Liverpool are still reeling from the disappointment of losing the Premier League title and Champions League title last season.
He said that their current struggles and striking form dips are a result of their mentality and could be fixed.
“The title has gone, that’s how bad their start has been, but I don’t think you go from being nearly quadruple winners to a bad squad overnight,” he told Drivetime.
“It’s not a problem with the quality, it’s just the mindset.
“When you start badly in a season and you’re not quite at it, whether it be complacency, whether it be a hangover from missing out on the Premier League and in the Champions League final last year, whatever it is, it’s very hard to change momentum of playing badly and losing some games and losing lots of goals.
“The magnifying glass of being at a club like Liverpool is huge, it comes from everywhere, every one focusing on your performance, whether it be Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah or Vigil van Dijk and the pressure builds.
“They’ve set ridiculously high standards, I’ve got no doubt that they’ll bounce back and have a good run, I’ve got no doubt of that because of the quality they’ve got.
“Will it be good enough to get a Champions League spot? I still think yes, but they’re going to have to start soon, because at the moment they’re too easy to play against.”
While a 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League final appears to have taken it’s toll, talkSPORT’s Ally McCoist believes missing out on the Premier League title on the final day of the campaign was a bigger psychological blow to the team.
“I just wonder if that 81st minute winner for Ilkay Gundogan [against Aston Villa] finally broke the soul of this particular Liverpool squad,” the Rangers legend said on the TalkSPORT Breakfast.
“They will react, of course they’ll get a reaction, but you look at some of the results, like losing 4-1 to Napoli, they are just so un-Liverpool-like performances.”
City were 2-0 down to Aston Villa with just 22 minutes left to play, with the title seemingly heading to Anfield, when Gundogan came off the bench and made an instant impact – pulling a goal back before Rodri levelled the game, and Gundogan then scoring the winner in a six-minute comeback to hand the title to Pep Guardiola instead.
Or, is Klopp’s high intensity brand of ‘heavy metal football’ taking its toll?
Didi Hamann was another ex-Red. suggested to talkSPORT that the popular German coach’s job could be in doubt if results don’t improve soon, with players who previously looked unbeatable making basic mistakes.
But, despite how bad it is looking for the Anfield giants at the moment, Stuart Pearce insists Klopp’s job should be safe after everything he has achieved in charge.
“I just think the connection between him and the fans is so tight,” said the former England and West Ham coach.
“That’s what I see, and I’ll be really surprised if the Liverpool fans turn on him in any way shape or form.
“I think they should stick with Jurgen Klopp, because I think he’s a really good manager and he’s been brilliant for the club.”
