Reading manager Paul Ince has revealed his thoughts on Liverpool’s recent problems and believes Fabinho’s presence in the Reds’ midfield significantly improves them.
Jurgen Klopp’s side slumped to a 2-1 defeat to North West rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford on Monday night.
Goals from Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford gave the home side a comfortable lead, before Mohamed Salah scored a late header that was ultimately a consolation.
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The result leaves the Merseyside club without a win from their opening three Premier League games, and seven points behind leaders Arsenal.
The five points they find themselves behind likely title rivals Manchester City will be Klopp’s biggest concern, after a start that has sparked mass criticism of his side amongst supporters and the media.
Ince, who played for Liverpool between 1997 and 1999, described the Reds as looking ‘uncomfortable’ without Brazilian midfield maestro Fabinho.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, he said: “There was no intensity, no rhythm (against United). Fabinho comes on second half and they’re a different team, took Henderson off and no disrespect to Milner but he’s played the whole game.
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“I felt from minute one, they didn’t look comfortable in how they set the team up.”
Ince went on to lament Klopp for his decision to utilise teenager Harvey Elliott in a role he didn’t operate in when thriving on loan at Blackburn Rovers.
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“Harvey Elliott in the holding position, at Blackburn he was on the left scoring 15 goals as season, now he’s in a holding position. Slow, lethargic.”
Liverpool’s midfield was indeed a huge part of where they lost the game at Old Trafford. With Thiago Alcantara and Naby Keita ruled out, Klopp opted to deploy a midfield three consisting of two players on the wrong side of 30 in Jordan Henderson and James Milner, and 19-year-old Elliott.
The three failed to create a functional middle of the park that could progress the ball quickly to the attacking players in front of them and struggled to prevent United playing through them.
With just nine days remaining until the transfer window closes, Klopp may look to address some of these midfield issues in the market.
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The Anfield based side have been linked to the likes of Jude Bellingham and Marcelo Brozovic this summer.