Jamie Carragher insists Liverpool MUST sign a midfielder to finish in top four

Jamie Carragher has slammed Liverpool for their lack of physicality after their 3-1 loss to Brentford  on Monday, accusing them of ‘not looking like a Jurgen Klopp team’.

The Reds struggled to get in the game at a rampant G Tech Community Stadium, as goals from Yoane Wissa, Bryan Mbeumo added to an own goal from Ibrahima Konate. It came after a promising run of results for the club, although their performances have been questioned for some time. 

Liverpool’s top four hopes now look looking shaky, while the Bees have surged to seventh.

Liverpool were outplayed physically on Monday as they lost 3-1 to Brentford

Jamie Carragher accused his former side of ‘not looking like a Jurgen Klopp team’ after the loss

For Carragher, his former side’s lack of pace and physicality was a serious worry. He told Sky Sports: ‘From minute one of Jurgen Klopp’s era, forget the quality of the players, they were sprinting all over the place. 

‘I don’t see that now. Its not a Jurgen Klopp team. And I want to know why because I can’t work it out. They have some great technical players coming through, but they don’t look like Jurgen Klopp players.’

‘They need a complete revamp in midfield. It’s like they’re trying to play the Jurgen Klopp way without Jurgen Klopp players. They’re now like a normal team in terms of the press, but they’re still playing that high line. 

‘We talk about Virgil van Dijk, he’s not been at his best, but no matter how good you are, you need protection from your midfield. If you don’t get protection you’ve got no chance.’

Their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League next season are now hanging by a thread

The former defender went on to compare Liverpool to another declining Premier League side, as he added: ‘It reminds me of the Arsenal team under Arsene Wenger, they were always a great footballing team, but their pace and physicality were what teams couldn’t cope with.  

‘And then that team morphed into something really technical, and then they never won again.’

Moving forward Carragher felt it was vital that Liverpool spent ‘£200 million’ on top quality midfielders, and that if they didn’t strengthen in the area they would not finish in the top four.

‘Liverpool’s transfer team have been lauded more than any in Premier League, but this is on them,’ he said.

Carragher compared Liverpool’s decline to Arsenal at the end of Arsene Wenger’s tenure

‘They’ve gone from team challenging for four trophies to one that’s struggling for a Champions League place. Liverpool didn’t sign a midfield player in the summer.

‘They can’t get in the top four without signing a midfielder. I can’t see it changing before the end of the season.

‘They need a [Georginio] Wijnaldum type midfielder, who alongside a Fabhino can protect that back four and stop the players running through.’

Liverpool are next in action when they face Brighton on Saturday, January 14.