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Sky pundit says £80k-a-week Liverpool man and 25-year-old teammate ‘not even close’ to top standard
Sky pundit Paul Merson has criticised Liverpool’s lack of squad depth, claiming Xherdan Shaqiri and Divock Origi are “not even close” to Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino’s level.
The Reds have found themselves missing numerous key players on several occasions this season.
Against Brighton in midweek, Liverpool were missing Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Sadio Mane, Fabinho, Alisson Becker, Joel Matip and Diogo Jota.
Most of the Reds’ issues this term have been at central defence, culminating in the club signing Ben Davies and Ozan Kabak late in the January window.
However, Liverpool have been suffering issues up front more recently – against West Ham, Jurgen Klopp went with a front two of Origi and Mohamed Salah.
The Reds won that game, but couldn’t follow it up against the Seagulls, with the attack looking blunt and Shaqiri failing to impress on either flank.
“Liverpool’s first XI is as good as anyone’s,” Merson wrote in the .
“But once you lose Van Dijk and Gomez the drop off at the back is huge. The backups are not even four steps down.
“It’s the same up front too. Xherdan Shaqiri and Divock Origi are not even close to the levels of Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.
“You need a squad when you play the way Liverpool do. City can leave out loads of players and not get any worse. Liverpool can’t.”
TBR View:
It’s been one of those seasons for Liverpool, where pretty much everything that could’ve gone wrong has gone wrong.
Although the Reds have been battling bravely in pursuit of a second consecutive title, there have been too many hurdles in the shape of big absences, and indeed a lack of squad depth.
Shaqiri, on , did well as a No. 10 but he doesn’t seem cut out to play in the front three, while 25-year-old Origi hasn’t looked like a capable deputy for a while now.
Liverpool have done well to remain in contention, but no team would be able to retain a title with so many key players out.