‘It was scary’: Sky presenter questions future of four Liverpool players, Paul Merson responds

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Paul Merson urged Jurgen Klopp on Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports to remain ‘so patient’ with his Liverpool players despite their drop in form this season.

The former Premier League midfielder was asked by Sky presenter, Jeff Stelling, as to whether there were question marks over the future of four Liverpool players – Roberto Firmino, Xherdan Shaqiri, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita.

Out of those above players, only Firmino has been a regular for Liverpool, whilst Shaqiri and the Ox have struggled with game time and Keita has been in and out of the treatment room.

Nonetheless, Merson claimed that Virgil van Dijk’s injury was so ’scary’ that it has affected the way Liverpool have played and Klopp should keep faith in his star players.

“Do you feel there has to be some sort of shake-up though, Merse,” asked Stelling.

“The other players I would put question marks over and do they have decisions to make over the likes of Firmino, Oxlade-Chamberlian, Keita and Shaqiri?”

Merson responded: “I wouldn’t say Firmino. You have to remember, this all comes down from Van Dijk. It was so big, it was scary. They played on the halfway line.

“When those three were the best in the business in Firmino, Mane and Salah, they were closing down, winning the ball 25 yards out with two touch. Now, all of a sudden, not through the fault of the defenders, they have to drop off a bit because they cannot play two v two. Then they are winning the ball on the halfway line. 

“If I was Klopp, I would be so patient. This team was so good the year before, as soon as Van Dijk is fit I expect it to be a heads or tails (for the title).” 

From Andy Robertson to Sadio Mane, Liverpool have got quite a few things right when dipping into the transfer market.

And more of that will be needed this summer as Liverpool aim to either refresh their squad by large numbers or make very little changes and hope they can rediscover that form they had when the likes of VVD return.

Perhaps it would be safe for Liverpool to sprinkle some stardust onto this team, both in the forward areas and at the back because they don’t want to be in a situation where they are regretting not taking any action by the time the new campaign starts in 2021/22.