Steven Gerrard Blames Thin Squad As Liverpool Slump Continues

Steven Gerrard has pointed to a lack of depth as the key reason behind Liverpool’s stuttering Premier League campaign after their latest setback against Brighton & Hove Albion.

The champions fell to a 2-1 defeat at the Amex Stadium, their tenth league loss of the season, piling further pressure on Arne Slot and his side.

Speaking to TNT Sports, Steven Gerrard said Liverpool’s struggles stem from an inability to rotate effectively, particularly after demanding European fixtures.

“We have observed this several times this season where they exert a great deal of effort and perform admirably on the Champions League stage,” the former Liverpool captain said.

“The emotion, energy, and intensity required to succeed or secure a result in those matches significantly impact their performance on weekends.

“They do not possess the options within the squad or on the bench to make sufficient changes that would inject energy or quality into the team to match their midweek performance levels.

“He had to rely on many of the same players today, making only a few forced changes. However, the manager prefers to maintain consistency rather than make changes to energy, which ultimately backfired today.”

Liverpool’s disappointing display came just days after a commanding 4-0 win over Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League, demonstrating the gap between their European and domestic form.

Despite reaching the quarter-finals in Europe, Liverpool sit fifth in the Premier League table and face a tight battle to secure Champions League football next season.

Injuries have also taken their toll. Hugo Ekitike is the latest absentee, joining Mohamed Salah, Alisson Becker, Alexander Isak and Conor Bradley on the sidelines.