Former Liverpool goalkeeper Sander Westerveld has laid part of the blame for the current side’s problems on the board and the fact they “haven’t bough a midfielder for four years”.
This season has proven to be a difficult one for the Reds, who have struggled to hit the heights they managed last season.
That campaign saw them competing on all four fronts, including a Premier League title challenge and potential seventh Champions League crown.
That saw them playing an extreme amount of games, racking up 63 in total as they played in every possible match in all the competitions they were in.
It’s something which has seemingly caused problems this season, with Liverpool struggling to play at the same pace and intensity that has personified Jurgen Klopp’s time in charge and the most successful teams of this era.
Westerveld is of the belief that those games have caused problems for Liverpool this season, but the real issue is the failure to improve their midfield.
“Last year they won four trophies and only lacked the Champions League,” he told Marca.
“That may be the problem, they have played so many games and it may have cost them a lot of energy. The second reason is the injuries, not I remember a year with so many casualties.
“There were also new players, the forwards, who had to get used to Liverpool’s style. To all this, we must add that the owners haven’t bought a midfielder for four years, only Thiago.
“It’s a year that we have to forget. You never know with Liverpool, it’s a team that works miracles, but the goal is to finish fourth.”
