Liverpool’s 2-1 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers was their ninth defeat of their Premier League title defence.
Michael Owen has suggested that Liverpool’s downfall this season has been because of their changes in the wide areas of the squad.
The Reds’ 2-1 defeat by Wolverhampton Wanderers was their ninth loss in the Premier League this season. Arne Slot’s side’s defence of the English championship has been meek and they sit just fifth in the table, facing a battle for Champions League qualification.
Liverpool were the favourites to retain the title after spending circa £450 million in the summer transfer window on Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Giorgi Mamardashvili and Giovanni Leoni.
But the Reds did lose Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz, who were both key in the Premier League triumph, to Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, respectively. Alexander-Arnold’s right-back replacements Frimpong and Conor Bradley have had fitness issues, while Cody Gakpo - who has become first-choice left-winger after the sale of Diaz - has struggled for consistency.
In addition, former Liverpool striker Owen claimed that Kerkez - recruited for £40 million from AFC Bournemouth - looks like a ‘bag of nerves’ despite dislodging Andy Robertson for the left-back berth. In addition, right-winger Mo Salah’s form has jettisoned despite firing 34 goals and 23 assists in 2024-25.
Speaking on Premier League Productions, Owen said: “Transition, maybe, some of the positions getting a feel for it. I’m just not convinced about one or two of the players. Full-backs, you’ve gone from Trent and Robertson - possibly the best combination of full-backs the Premier League has seen for a long, long time. You had Salah ahead, who has been a freak over the last few years, and Diaz who played with loads of energy.
“Those four players have basically been changed. I can’t warm to Kerkez. He looks like a bag of nerves. He looks like he doesn’t want the ball, he looks like an emotional defender. You’re in possession of the ball a lot of the time, it’s like he’s in a trance constantly. Gakpo is half the player he was last season, Salah is a tenth of the player he was last season and the right-back is trying to replace Trent. None of them are ever fit in Conor Bradley or Frimpong.
“Straight away, in four places, Liverpool are much weaker than last season and is that transition or is Salah getting older, is Gakpo not quite the same? The full-backs, you’re never going to be good as the previous full-backs so they’re definitely weakening the team. I’m hanging on to it’s going to be transitional but there needs to be improvement, as well.”
Owen also hit out at Curtis Jones for his role in Wolves’ 94th-minute winner. The midfielder, who replaced Ryan Gravenberch at half-time, played a backpass to goalkeeper Alisson Becker, whose clearance gifted the home side possession and Andre Trindade’s deflected shot squirmed into the back of the net.
“I’ve got no problem with him going back to the goalkeeper but if you’re going to do it, do it quick,” said an aghast Owen. “How many times does he take too many touches? That was so lackadaisical. Get the ball and pass it to him quick, if you want to take your time and put pressure on yourself then fine but to put it onto the goalkeeper.
“He can’t do much when the ball is coming across your body. Nah, not having that at all. Curtis Jones has got to start livening up. He takes too many touches and that was an afterthought, I can’t see aything so I’ll play it slowly past to the goalkeeper. That cost them the goal.”
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