Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen has criticised a lack of creativity in Arne Slot’s side, insisting the champions are feeling the absence of Mohamed Salah.
Liverpool extended their unbeaten run to eight games with a 0-0 draw against Leeds United on New Year’s Day but managed just four shots on target, with only one coming after the break.
The Reds have scored 30 league goals so far this season, their lowest total at this stage in a decade, and Owen believes the struggles stem from Salah’s absence, with the forward currently representing Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Liverpool return to action away to Fulham on Sunday before travelling to face Arsenal next week.
“Well, sometimes it’s not only tactical – sometimes it’s just an attitude thing, an urgency, a desire,” Owen said.
“I did think late on in the game they weren’t playing wide enough. Federico Chiesa came on and he didn’t really know where he was standing.
“Cody Gakpo came on but so did Rio Ngumoha, and they were tripping over themselves standing in the same position. Conor Bradley, normally an attacking threat down the right side, I thought that was one of his worst games.
“There was just no creativity. I said to Macca (Steve McManaman) before the game that I like the balance of Liverpool’s team, but I don’t really see many goalscorers.
“Normally, you see a Mohamed Salah and a Hugo Ekitike and an Alexander Isak and a Gakpo, and you think there are goals among those.
“Look at that team today and Florian Wirtz is struggling for goals and for performances, and you’ve got a right wing-back (Jeremie Frimpong) playing in place of Mo Salah at the moment.
“It just shows you people saying Salah should have been dropped or sold – I mean, that’s them without Mo Salah.”
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