Jamie Carragher insists Liverpool MUST sign a midfielder to finish in top four

Jamie Carragher criticized Liverpool for their lack of physicality after their 3-1 defeat by Brentford on Monday, accusing them of “not looking like a Jurgen Klopp team”.

The Reds struggled to get into the game in a riotous Gtech Community Stadium as goals from Yoane Wissa, Bryan Mbuemo were added to an own goal from Ibrahima Konate. He arrived after a promising run of results for the club, although his performances have been in question for some time.

Liverpool’s top four hopes now look shaky, while the Bees have moved up to seventh.

Liverpool were physically outmatched on Monday when they lost 3-1 to Brentford in the top flight.

Jamie Carragher accused his former team of ‘not looking like a Jurgen Klopp team’ after defeat

For Carragher, his former team’s lack of pace and physicality was a major concern. He told Sky Sports: ‘From minute one of the Jurgen Klopp era, forget the quality of the players, they were running everywhere.

‘I don’t see that now. It is not a Jurgen Klopp team. And I want to know why because I can’t figure it out. They have great technical players, but they don’t look like Jurgen Klopp’s players.

‘They need a complete renovation in midfield. It’s like they are trying to play the Jurgen Klopp way without Jurgen Klopp players. Now they are like a normal team in terms of press, but they are still playing on that high line.

We are talking about Virgil van Dijk, he has not been at his best, but no matter how good you are, you need protection in your midfield. If you don’t get protection, you don’t stand a chance.

Their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League next season hang in the balance.

The former defender compared Liverpool to another declining Premier League team, adding: “It reminds me of the Arsenal team with Arsene Wenger, they were always a great football team but their pace and physicality were what teams don’t they could.” power with.

“And then that team morphed into something really technical, and then they never won again.”

Going forward, Carragher felt it was vital that Liverpool spend ‘£200m’ on top-quality midfielders, and that if they did not get stronger in the box, they would not finish in the top four.

“Liverpool’s transfer team have been praised more than any other in the Premier League, but this is up to them,” he said.

Carragher compared Liverpool’s decline to Arsenal at the end of Arsene Wenger’s tenure

“They have gone from a team fighting for four trophies to one fighting for a place in the Champions League. Liverpool did not sign a midfielder in the summer.

“They can’t be in the top four without signing a midfielder. I can’t see it changing before the end of the season.

‘They need a [Georginio] Wijnaldum-type midfielder, who together with a Fabihno can protect the back four and prevent players from running.

Liverpool are next in action in the Premier League when they take on Brighton on Saturday, January 14.