Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson has been speaking on the latest installment of the OTB Football podcast, where he expressed his doubts over the Reds’ top-four hopes.
It’s been an extremely tough season for the reigning Premier League champions. Several long-term injuries to key men and a significant drop-off in form from the likes of Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino have contributed to their underwhelming league campaign.
Jurgen Klopp’s men are currently sitting in sixth place in the top-flight standings, six points behind fourth-placed Leicester City, albeit with a game in hand over the Foxes.
Despite Brendan Rodgers’ side giving Liverpool hope after unexpectantly losing to Newcastle United over the weekend, Lawrenson isn’t confident of securing a place in the top four.
He said: (5:53) “No, I’d love to say yeah. I think, you know, Klopp gambled a little bit, obviously at the weekend in terms of the two central defenders and has obviously decided, I think everyone’s been saying to him, you’ve just got to leave Fabinho in midfield, he’s a completely different player.
“With the absence of Henderson, he makes such a difference. So, I just think they look vulnerable. They look vulnerable on the counter-attack…but no, I’m still not convinced, and the fact that they look vulnerable, and I think they know that they’re vulnerable, that’s the problem.
“The players take to the pitch, and that it’s almost like fingers crossed – hopefully, we don’t concede today, and I think, you know, that the two previous games against Newcastle and Leeds, that’s where Liverpool are at the moment.
“And they need a rest basically, all those players need a rest, especially with the way that Klopp demands that they play the football and it’s touch and go for me whether they actually get in. I’m totally not convinced at all.”
TIF Thoughts on Liverpool’s top-four chances…
Liverpool’s chances of finishing in the top four may come down to a straight shootout between themselves and Leicester City, considering the league table.
The Foxes face a tough run-in, with games against Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur to come, while Liverpool face a more favourable fixture schedule, including Man Utd, West Brom, Burnley and Crystal Palace.
Ultimately Klopp’s charges will need Leicester to slip up if they are to stand any chance of returning to Europe’s elite cup competition, but pulling off such a significant swing is hard to imagine given how Liverpool have struggled all season.
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