Former Manchester United captain, Roy Keane, has sounded the alarm on Liverpool, declaring the club to be “in crisis” following their 3-0 defeat to Manchester City.
The reigning Premier League champions have struggled this season, suffering five losses and sitting eighth in the table, eight points adrift of leaders Arsenal.
For Keane, that represents a serious cause for concern. Speaking on Sky Sports (via Daily Mail), he pointed to a critical weakness in Arne Slot’s side.
“At this moment you can’t be considering Liverpool for the title. That’s five losses now. The type of goals they’re giving away… people keep on talking about their attacking players, but defensively they are all over the place,” Keane said. He added: “The amount of goals they’re giving up… this will feel like the worst defeat. Some of the other games they lost last minute, tight games, but that one will be a sore one. It’s crisis time for Liverpool.”
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher also singled out a player struggling this season. Having made over 700 appearances for the Reds, Carragher was particularly critical of French defender Ibrahima Konate.
“I don’t understand at all what Konate is trying to do,” Carragher said. “When Liverpool concede a goal or have a problem, he’s at the heart of it. Too often this season, he’s gone missing away from home.”
Keane was quick to reinforce his assessment, dismissing recent signs of improvement after wins against Aston Villa and Real Madrid.
“To lose seven in 10 and five times already is a crisis time for club like Liverpool,” he said. “Slot’s assessment is spot on. City looked stronger, technically better and much better physically. Liverpool looked like a very weak team today. They have still got quality to cause problems, but, defensively, the goals they have given away, [poor] decision making, a lack of intensity… it looked really flat. He [Slot] was pleased with the second half but the game was over. It is easy to play at 2-0 or 3-0 when your opponents are taking their foot off gas. To me, I think it is a crisis for Liverpool.”
Meanwhile, City’s victory propelled them to second in the league, four points behind Arsenal, showing they are regaining form despite a recent setback against Aston Villa.
