Liverpool ‘zombies’ walking through ‘depressing’ season, says Gary Neville

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has said Liverpool look like “zombies” in their disappointing attempt to defend their Premier League title.

Jurgen Klopp’s champions have lost their last four games in the top flight and sit sixth in the table, 19 points behind leaders Manchester City.

And Neville believes the Reds are simply repeating the same mistakes, with no fresh ideas being implemented to help them end their dismal run.

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“It’s starting to get a little bit worrying in the sense we know they have got injuries, we know they have not got fans in the stadium, we know about Covid and there a lot of games, but it’s the same for everybody,” Neville said on The Gary Neville podcast.

“But it’s the lack of change, a different idea. They just look beaten, almost like zombies on the pitch walking around thinking the same thing.

“Maybe it needs something different from Klopp? He has been quite simply unchallengeable and still is at Liverpool but even he might be thinking now: ‘Do I have to do something different?’

“It’s not for me to advise Liverpool or Klopp what to do, but playing a box to protect your centre-backs or maybe going to three at the back – we have seen other teams go to that system.

“But it looks to me they need a new idea just to give them a spark or it could be a really depressing season for them where they do not qualify for the Champions League, although I still think they will.”

Liverpool were beaten 2-0 by rivals Everton at the weekend in the Merseyside derby, marking the first time the Toffees had achieved a victory at Anfield since 1999.

It was the latest in a series of poor performances and results that is becoming increasingly concerning, Neville said.

“It is a bit more of a worry than it was two or three weeks ago if you are a Liverpool fan,” the former right-back said. “There is a chance of reset in the summer as that fourth year is always a challenge.

“Man City needed that year off last year when Liverpool won the league comfortably and maybe this is what it is for Liverpool. With fans returning, Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez returning, it means they will be more confident over the summer. But at the moment it’s desperate for them.

“I have not seen any change or a difference in what Liverpool do. Everton picked the right moment and if they were not going to show belief in that game then they never were.

“It was a brilliant moment for Everton. They look like they have more belief under Carlo Ancelotti in big matches. It should give the players confidence that they could have their best season for quite a while.”

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