Liverpool are over-reliant on Mohamed Salah and need Roberto Firmino to ‘step up’, according to Peter Crouch.
The Reds slipped to a surprise 1-0 defeat at home to Brighton on Wednesday due to Steven Alzate’s fortuitous second-half goal.
Nat Phillips’ attempted clearence bounced off Leandro Trossard and then Alzate and looped into back of the net and condemned the Reds to back-to-back Anfield defeats.
Liverpool struggled to break down their opponents, with Salah, who was his side’s biggest threat, spurning a couple of chances.
But with Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane both not involved due to injury, former Reds striker Crouch admitted Firmino, who has just six goals this season, needs to step up his game.
‘There’s an over-reliance on Salah, Firmino’s got to step up,’ Crouch told BT Sport.
‘It felt like he’s coming back into it. But Salah is the one scoring the goals, he’s still got 20-goals and we’re talking about him not being on top form.
He’s a top-class player but with Mane missing, Jota as well. It was a shame when Jota got injured because he was really pushing them to start.
‘But when Salah’s not on it or he misses chances, I just don’t think there’s enough when Mane’s out and Jota’s out in the team to score goals.’
Liverpool take on Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday and go into the clash seven points behind the league leaders.
However, Crouch doesn’t think the title race is anywhere near being done and dusted.
‘It’s a crazy season, I know people will say it’s a cliche but it’s been nuts,’ he added.
‘Liverpool will get players back so they will go on a run, we can’t discount Manchester United and Leicester have been fantastic, another win for them tonight, they’ve got so many good players. But City are strong favourites.’
MORE : Ozan Kabak ‘didn’t hesitate’ when Liverpool came calling over deadline day move, says Schalke boss
Follow Metro Sport across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
For more stories like this, check our sport page
from Football – Metro https://ift.tt/3aAl8XM
No comments:
Post a Comment