Michael Owen thinks Liverpool need to “find something quick” if they are to keep their Premier League title hopes alive.
The Reds lost 1-0 to Brighton as they drifted to seven points behind title rivals Manchester City, who also have a game in hand on the reigning champions.
The loss to the Seagulls was their second in a row at Anfield after going almost four years unbeaten at home in the Premier League.
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Leaders City are next up for Jurgen Klopp’s men with Owen fancying the Reds to make a statement win over Pep Guardiola’s side.
Owen told Premier League Productions: “Yeah, at the moment, it’s seven points and a game in hand what City have got. That’s a lot, we’re past halfway.
“You’d have to say if Liverpool don’t beat Manchester City at the weekend then… because it’s not just the points total, it’s what’s going to happen in the future and Liverpool just aren’t playing well enough and haven’t played well for the last month or so.
“I actually think they are better against better teams, teams who come out a little bit and fancy themselves to play against them. At the moment, anyone that plays deep and puts men behind the ball they’re really struggling to unlock.
“Brighton, give them their due, they attacked in numbers but when they had to defend they defended in numbers as well. Liverpool couldn’t prise open their packed defence and that’s been a theme over the last few weeks.
“I actually fancy Liverpool against the better teams, they’ve just beaten Tottenham and West Ham, two teams who are very, very good and in good form.
“Actually, you can’t write them off against Manchester City. Okay, one team is at the peak of their powers and one team is probably struggling as much as they have done in years. Yet, you still think in a big game that Liverpool can pull out a performance.
“But that’s their problem, beating packed defences, teams who come and are happy to get a draw and to keep the score down. In the end they are running away with a point or sometimes three.
“The performances and the results, visually, I like stats and I read stats, sometimes it just doesn’t look right and it hasn’t looked right for half a dozen games at least now. They are not playing well at all.
“Tottenham was a good performance. Of course [the missing players] has a massive bearing, every team relies on certain players, no matter who you are. But even with the players who are going out there, they are underperforming. It’s not like the big players are there and this is as good as they are.
“Liverpool are better than that and it’s just not quite happening. It looks like there’s no energy in the team. Liverpool are used to winning the ball high, keeping the energy up, keeping a high tempo game.
“All of a sudden now it’s just not the Liverpool I’m used to watching, they rarely hunt in packs any more. It’s just not what we’re used to at the minute and they need to find something quick.”
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