Alan Shearer has backed former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher in demanding improvements from Liverpool quartet Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Milos Kerkez.
The Reds have been defeated in nine of their previous 12 matches across all competitions, with mounting pressure beginning to surround manager Arne Slot. Liverpool has endured consecutive home defeats at Anfield, falling to a shocking 3-0 reverse against struggling Nottingham Forest before suffering a humiliating 4-1 thrashing at the hands of PSV in the Champions League.
Consequently, the odds have shortened dramatically on Slot facing dismissal from his role, with former Reds midfielder Xabi Alonso and ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp among the bookmakers' leading candidates to assume control at Anfield.
Shearer has slammed Liverpool's recent displays, stating the Reds face problems across the entire pitch and have significant worries approaching the festive fixture list.
Speaking to Betfair, Shearer said: "I think the damaging thing for Arne Slot and for Liverpool at the minute is the manner of the defeats.
"If you're going down and you're unlucky, conceding unlucky or last-minute goals, then you say, okay, there's plenty to work on.
Virgil van Dijk has said that the players need to take responsibility
Virgil van Dijk has said that the players need to take responsibility (Image: Getty Images)
"But the manner of the defeat... it's hard enough losing any game, but the way they're being beat has to be a huge concern because they’re all over the place. If it was one problem, maybe you could fix it, but there’s issues all over the pitch.
"In forward positions, they look devoid of ideas. Defensively, it’s a massive worry. They’re struggling for a right-back, and (Dominik) Szoboszlai started there, then (Curtis) Jones went in there. Kerkez has been really poor.
"Van Dijk, well you look to your captain to put in big performances, yet Virgil’s performances… he looks leggy, slow, puzzled. He’s a shadow of the player from last season, as is Konate. I suppose you can say that about any Liverpool player right now.
"We’re talking about him because he’s the captain and voice of the dressing room. His words at the weekend were concerning, saying they need to look at themselves, do better, roll up their sleeves, and fight.
"Well, he’s got to lead by example, and at the minute, he’s a shadow of himself.
"You can say the same about Salah, Konate, and most of the new signings, other than (Hugo) Ekitike, who went off injured. Even then, Slot left him out at the weekend, which I thought was strange. Other than him, there’s not a lot of responsibility being shown.
"Jamie Carragher pointed out that Salah is quick to speak when he gets Man of the Match or is negotiating a new contract, and I understand that side of it.
"But the time for talking is on the pitch, not off it. Whether you do interviews or not is irrelevant, you do your talking with performances. Salah isn’t doing that, Van Dijk isn’t, and many others aren’t either. That’s the real concern."