Liverpool should be extremely concerned about their recent performances, according to talkSPORT host Tony Cascarino.
It’s been a slow start to the season for the Reds, who are currently ninth after seven games with just two wins to their name.
The Reds enjoyed their fourth league draw this season on Saturday, a 3-3 draw at home to Brighton.
The match saw Klopp’s side lose a late lead, leaving the fans frustrated.
After coming from a 2-0 down after 17 minutes to a 3-2 draw, Liverpool conceded in the 83rd minute as Seagulls star and hat-trick hero Leandro Trossard brought the traveling side level.
It’s not just not seeing Saturday’s game that has left pundits wondering what’s wrong with Liverpool at the moment – including talkSPORT’s Tony Cascarino.
Speaking on Weekend Sports Breakfast, the ex-Chelsea star said: “Brighton deserved to win, Alisson made some really good saves. An own goal gave Liverpool the lead.
“I’m very worried about Liverpool. I don’t think Liverpool have improved at all apart from the 9-0 result which was [against] Bournemouth when they played Bournemouth at their worst.
“They have Arsenal next week. Arsenal will beat this Liverpool team.
The Reds have conceded 10 league goals this season, keeping just two clean sheets so far.
Last season, Klopp’s side had the second-best defensive record, dropping just 26 goals in the entire Premier League campaign, the same tally as champions Manchester City.
It’s Liverpool’s declining defensive abilities this season that Cascarino says is their downfall – in particular, Klopp’s choice of right-back Trent, who was responsible for Brighton’s first two goals.
“They’re not defending as a team now,” he said, “They’re behind, they’re not getting closer to their opponent.
“It’s costing Liverpool a lot of money right now.”
He added: “Fabinho isn’t playing either. Jordan Henderson has had injuries and been in and out of the squad.
“The midfield has been decimated and it looks like they struggle at times. Van Dijk doesn’t play anywhere we know he is capable of.
“There have been midfield injuries, yes Liverpool are recovering players but they are behind.
“Liverpool aren’t at the same pace as they used to be. I’ve had this thrown at me so many times ‘oh they miss Mane’.
“Mane wouldn’t do much better with this team. They don’t defend as a team. They are late, they are not getting closer to their opponent.
“It’s expensive for Liverpool.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s recent defensive performances continued to come under scrutiny and were once again on full display against Brighton
Cascarino continued: “We could talk all day about how good Trent is.
“I’m going to sit here and tell you how good he is and what he can do and what he specializes in. [like] free kicks. He almost won the winning goal from a free kick, apart from [it was] a nice backup.
“I just think there’s something really weird about the way last season ended and the way Liverpool came into pre-season and were beaten by Man United.”
The Liverpool star made headlines this month after being omitted from Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the last two Nations League games, with his defense highlighted as a reason why he may have been excluded.
But when asked ahead of the Brighton game that Trent was not representing England in the international break this month, Klopp admitted his defensive play could improve but ultimately backed his right-back.
“He’s a good defender, he doesn’t always defend well, that’s also true, but that’s what we’re working on, he’s a young player, he’s 23,” he said. .
“There is certainly room for improvement, but we only discuss it at the level that we discuss it because its attacking impact is so extreme for us that it could be for every team in the world. “