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

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

The Reds struggled to get into the game at a sweltering G Tech Community Stadium, as goals from Yoane Wissa, Bryan Mbeumo added to an own goal from Ibrahima Konate. This comes 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 shaky, as the Bees move up to seventh.

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

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

For Carragher, his former side’s lack of pace and physicality is a serious concern. He told Sky Sports: ‘From the first minute of the Jurgen Klopp era, forget the quality of the players, they were sprinting everywhere.

I don’t see that now. This is not a Jurgen Klopp team. And I want to know why because I can’t. They have some good technical players coming through, but they don’t look like Jurgen Klopp players.’

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

‘We are talking about Virgil van Dijk, he has not been the best, but no matter how good you are, you need protection from your midfield. If you don’t get protection you don’t stand a chance.’

Their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League 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 have always been a good football team, but the their speed and physicality are not capable of teams. cope with.

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

Moving forward, Carragher felt it was vital that Liverpool spend ‘£200 million’ on top quality midfielders, and if they don’t strengthen in place they won’t finish in the top four.

‘Liverpool’s transfer team has been praised more than any in the Premier League, but it’s up to them,’ he said.

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

‘They went from the team challenging for four trophies to one fighting for a place in the Champions League. Liverpool did not sign a midfield player in the summer.

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

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

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