Robbie Fowler claims obvious Liverpool weakness needs fixing as part of three big changes for success

Robbie Fowler has outlined three things Liverpool have to get right over the next few months if they are to sustain their level of success.

The Reds have enjoyed a magnificent season so far, playing in every game possible in every competition possible. That has meant an unprecedented quadruple is still a possibility, even if unlikely.

Liverpool’s journey towards glory this season started with their Carabao Cup success in February.

On Saturday, meanwhile, the Reds scooped the FA Cup – once again on penalties against Chelsea. The Champions League final in Paris subsequently awaits after Liverpool‘s final two Premier League games of the season.

However, Manchester City have the Premier League title in their hands. And that is partly because of points Jurgen Klopp’s side have dropped along the way from winning positions.

Indeed, Fowler insisted in his Sunday Mirror column that such results need to be stamped out if Liverpool are to get the edge over City.

“The question is, how do Liverpool evolve in the same way [as Man City]?”

“For me, there are three areas they will look at during the summer, and beyond, to keep pace with City, and maintain this incredible squad.

One is a simple thing: they’ve blown a few silly points this season. It happens, but it happened a tiny bit too much: Brighton at home when leading, Brentford away, Spurs away, too casual, too stupid.

“So there’s that, but that’s nit-picking, it doesn’t detract from what they have achieved.”

Fowler referenced City’s £51million signing of Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland throughout his column.

The pundit insisted that Liverpool “can’t compete with City” and urged the Reds to “use their strengths” in recruitment. Klopp has identified players perfect for his system such as Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah and Liverpool have signed them for “reasonable prices”.

Fowler urges Salah, Mane Liverpool stay

Mane and Salah have been the driving forces for Liverpool up front for the past six years.

However, their contracts expire at the end of next season and it remains unclear if they will renew. Klopp has quashed any doubt over his future and Fowler has claimed that he signed his new contract knowing fresh terms for his best players will also arrive.

“If they want to continue at this level for the four years of Klopp’s new contract, then I suspect they will have to find a way to keep Salah and Mane,” Fowler said.

“The biggest, dominant clubs don’t lose their best players, they get rid when they know the time is right. Have Liverpool reached that stage with those two? I very much doubt it.

“My feeling is that Klopp only agreed to sign a new contract after chatting about getting backing. Over signings, yes, but over keeping his best squad together. I heard him say before the Cup final, he doesn’t care who his rivals sign, so long as they don’t sign HIS players. Believe me, that is significant.”

“But you can’t lose players who make SUCH a huge impact on a team without harming that team. Not in one summer. There is no one at Liverpool right now who could reproduce the goal involvement numbers of Salah.”

Liverpool have shown future planning

Despite the clamour from Fowler to keep Salah and Mane, Liverpool have shown that they are already planning for the future.

Jota and Diaz are both 25 and yet to hit their peak, despite their instant and brilliant impacts at Anfield.

As such, as Mane and Salah enter their thirties, Jota and Diaz are ready to lead Liverpool forward into their primes.

Midfield will soon become a key area that needs work. The futures of the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita are uncertain.

For now, though, the Reds have proven they are more than capable of looking to the future.