Liverpool

Liverpool

Premier League • England

Jamie Carragher declares huge new reason for Liverpool downfall, with both Jurgen Klopp and Pep Lijnders culpable

Jurgen Klopp and Pep Lijnders of Liverpool

Jamie Carragher has provided a big new reason as to why Liverpool have fallen down to 10th place in the Premier League, and it seems both Jurgen Klopp and Pep Lijnders deserve some of the blame.

Liverpool had a successful season in 2021-22, winning both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup. They also reached the Champions League final, where they lost to Real Madrid, and came within one point of eventual Prem champions Manchester City.

However, Klopp’s side are way off the pace this time around. They have already lost five more league matches than they did in the entirety of last season. They are facing a massive uphill battle to get into the top six. Making the Champions League qualification spots will be even harder.

To make matters worse for Liverpool, they will not be able to win any domestic silverware this year. They were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Manchester City and dumped out of the FA Cup by Brighton.

The Champions League seems to be the last competition in which Liverpool can get their fans excited. Although, they will have to be on top of their game to get past Real in the round of 16.

There are several explanations as to why Liverpool are struggling so much this term. They include an ageing and injury-prone midfield, a gruelling 2021-22 season leaving the players shattered and Luis Diaz – the replacement for influential star Sadio Mane – being out of action since October.

But Carragher has now put forward a new reason. During an appearance on The Overlap, the former Reds defender discussed how most of Liverpool’s players are either too young or too old. They seem to be lacking stars who are in the prime of their careers. Klopp, and assistant boss Lijnders, should apparently take some of the blame.

“Liverpool have either got really young players or really old players,” Carragher declared.

Liverpool lacking specific group of players

“They haven’t got anyone in that sweet spot of sort of 25 to 29. And you have to put that to Jurgen Klopp or Pep Lijnders, the recruitment team who have had more praise than any recruitment team I have seen in my life.

“People criticise the owners in terms of money, I think the owners have done a brilliant job at the club.

“The biggest mistake FSG have made I feel is, whether they can control it or not, they have allowed this team that everybody in the Premier League around Europe is saying “that’s the model to follow”, they have allowed that to disintegrate.”

Carragher certainly seems to have a point. When you look at Klopp’s starting eleven against Wolves, only three players were aged between 25 and 29. These were Joe Gomez, Andy Robertson and Naby Keita.

Several of Liverpool’s most important players are 30 or over, such as Alisson, Virgil van Dijk, Thiago and Mo Salah. As such, Reds officials need to get to work this summer to bring the average age of the squad right down.

And one way of doing this would be to raid a La Liga club for an exciting 20-year-old. Although, they will have to fend off Manchester United and Arsenal for him.