Steven Gerrard slams Liverpool strugglers after latest defeat but denies crisis | Football

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard insists the club is not in crisis despite suffering a ninth defeat in 12 games against PSV on Wednesday night.

The Reds were soundly beaten 4-1 by the Dutch side at Anfield in the Champions League, continuing their nightmare run of form under Arne Slot.

With nine losses in 12, Liverpool are now on their worst run of form since a stretch from November 1953 to January 1954.

Despite this, Gerrard says it is not a crisis just yet, believing the manager and current squad can still turn things around having won the Premier League just months ago.

‘Each defeat, especially the manner of defeat, you become closer to the crisis,’ Gerrard said on TNT Sports. ‘I don’t like using the word crisis because a crisis to me is a club that needs years to get back to the top.

‘I don’t think Liverpool are at that point at all. They’ve still got magnificent players. This is still the majority of a squad that won the league a few months ago.

‘So I think crisis is too strong. But you can’t deny that this team is struggling massively.’

Gerrard was not defending the performance on Wednesday, though, bemoaning how easy the Reds are to carve open.

‘They’re conceding too many goals, they’re wide open in transition, look very vulnerable and unstable as soon as the ball turns over,’ said the former England star.

‘Anfield tells the story, the seats were empty with 10 minutes to go, as soon as the third went in the game was over. PSV were excellent, by the way, and totally deserved the victory.

‘Liverpool’s problems become deeper, the pressure intensifies even more and there needs to be a lot of soul searching tonight, for sure.’

He added: ‘They need to stop the bleeding, they’re conceding too many chances They look wide open.

‘The personnel’s not right in the back four. It’s going to be like Deja vu for Arne Slot tonight because he’s going to watch it back and go: “Yeah we had periods of control, we looked okay at times.” But individual mistakes again, wide open on transition, wide open for counter-attacks and conceding too many goals.’

Centre-back Ibrahima Konate came in for criticism as his poor form continued, with Gerrard pointing out that the Frenchman was substituted, with Slot preferring a very unusual back four without him.

‘I think the substitution of Konate was huge,’ he said. ‘I think that sends a story because you look at the back four you finish with. Curtis Jones, [Ryan] Gravenberch, [Virgil] Van DIjk and [Milos] Kerkez.

‘That’s not a Liverpool back four and never will be.’

Ivan Perisic gave PSV an early lead from the penalty spot after Virgil van Dijk bizarrely handled the ball in the box.

Dominik Szoboszlai equalised after just 16 minutes and Liverpool were on top for the rest of the first half.

However, things fell apart after the break, with Guus Til putting the visitors back ahead and then a late double from substitute Couhaib Driouech.

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