Ian Wright told the Kelly & Wrighty Show that Divock Origi, Xherdan Shaqiri and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are ‘not really making the impact’ Jurgen Klopp wants from his back-up Liverpool players.
All three featured for Liverpool on Wednesday night, as the Premier League champions suffered another defeat on home soil – this time to Brighton.
Shaqiri started the encounter, whilst Klopp brought on Origi and Oxlade-Chamberlain from the bench in the second half.
Liverpool have had to contend with a number of issues this season, as Wright summed up their campaign, thus far.
“When you talk about mental and physical tiredness,” said Wright. “When Liverpool chased down Man City to the one point, unbelievable mental and physical output. Same when they won it.
“To stay in front of everyone like they did and obliterate everybody. Unbelievable. All with no injuries. Hardly any injuries to any of their team.
“I think what they have done now, with the injuries, and the back-up players in Origi, in Shaqiri and like the OX.
“He’s not really getting in and making the impact Jurgen Klopp wants and then you get into a situation where you play a Brighton team, who are unbelievably well organised, and they got forwards who can score. Then you miss a couple of chances and then that starts weighing up on you.”
Liverpool did dip into the transfer market on deadline day, as Ben Davies and Ozan Kabak arrived as much-needed centre-back options.
With Liverpool’s team balance all over the place, because Jordan Henderson is playing at centre-back, it will be interesting to see if either duo gets a shot during these coming weeks.
But, in the meantime, Liverpool will be focused on an important clash with leaders Manchester City at the weekend – defeat on Sunday and then the holders will fall ten points behind their rivals.
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