"With Liverpool being" - Alan Shearer makes blunt Liverpool claim

Former Newcastle United striker and pundit Alan Shearer has suggested that Liverpool haven't been anywhere near as good as they can be this season.

The Reds sit eighth in the Premier League after their fixture with Chelsea was postponed this weekend, having won just two of their opening six Premier League matches.

They did beat Ajax 2-1 at Anfield which was a welcome boost before a long break as their next match with Brighton takes place on October 1.

But Jurgen Klopp's side have lost ground on runaway leaders Arsenal and champions Manchester City in that time, with both teams picking up 3-0 wins this weekend.

Shearer, who won a top flight title in his time with Blackburn Rovers, believes that the Reds have faltered from where they have been in previous years.

"It's been a strange start to this campaign by some of the big clubs, with Liverpool being nowhere near the levels we know they can be."

"Chelsea have been the same, and they have had more upheaval after their change of manager,” he told BBC Sport.

"Manchester United made a really poor start too but they have recovered well, while Tottenham are still unbeaten and are right up there along with Manchester City, who are still the team to beat."

"I still think Arsenal's main target is a return to the top four for the first time since 2016, and they have not done too much wrong so far."

“Their (Arsenal's) next two league games at the start of October, at home to Spurs and Liverpool, will tell us more about whether they can sustain this strong start but, right now, their fans will be enjoying what they are seeing."

There is no denying what Shearer is saying about Jurgen Klopp’s side, who have finished in the top two of the Premier League in three of the last four seasons, winning the title in 2020.

The break will allow the Reds to regroup and reset ahead of a busy October, in which Liverpool will play nine matches.