"Why are you bringing off..." - Ex-Liverpool star slams Jurgen Klopp's decision making against Leeds

Former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant has criticised Jurgen Klopp over one decision he made during the Reds' 2-1 defeat to Leeds on Saturday.

Liverpool lost at home in the Premier League for the first time since March 2021, with a late goal from Crysencio Summerville the difference between the two teams.

Jesse Marsch's side moved out of the relegation zone as a result of the crucial win, whilst Liverpool stayed ninth.

But the hosts are now 15 points off top spot in the division, and eight points behind fourth-placed Newcastle. In addition, they are five points ahead of 18th-placed Leicester.

Speaking after the game, Klopp said that Liverpool struggled to gain control of the match, and elaborated on the reasons why: "It is no secret that pretty much everybody on the pitch can play better football. There is no doubt about that.

"But obviously, you have to do the simple stuff right, and then you gain confidence, momentum, all these kinds of things.

"That's how it is, and we had that in different games but today we couldn't gain it, that's what I mean."

On the second goal, Klopp added: "My main issue with this game is how we defended the second goal, because that was something inbetween. 'Oh, we have the ball, oh, we don't have it, we lose it'.

"But then, in the end, everybody, until you don't have the ball, everybody has to defend, and we were not all there."

And, after the match, ex-Reds midfielder Pennant picked out one decision that he believes Klopp got wrong.

Jermaine Pennant on Liverpool defeat

Speaking on talkSPORT on Monday, Pennant, who made 55 appearances for the Reds between 2006 and 2009, said: "I want to go to substitutions.

"Why are you bringing off Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is probably one of the best crossers in the Premier League at the moment, along with Kevin De Bruyne and Reece James?

"[Klopp] brings on James Milner. No disrespect to him, he's a lovely guy and a great professional, and he's been absolutely brilliant when he comes on.

"But he's not going to do what Trent can do.

"We're playing at Anfield, where Liverpool are playing against a team who are sitting 18th in the league, in the relegation zone alongside Nottingham Forest. So we shouldn't be thinking, 'Oh, we need to bring on James Milner'."

It was only two weeks prior that the 36-year-old put in a superb performance at right-back against Manchester City.

However, against Leeds, Milner's substitution didn't quite have the effect going forward as perhaps the Reds would have liked, and they conceded a costly late goal at the other end.