The Anfield icon was less than impressed with this afternoon’s display.
Liverpool have suffered a sixth successive home league defeat for the first time in the club’s history. After the match, Graeme Souness referred to the side’s current state as “unfathomable”.
Jurgen Klopp’s men went down 1-0 to Fulham thanks to Mario Lemina’s first-half strike – capping off a miserable few months for last season’s league winners.
Before the game against Fulham, Liverpool had lost home games against Chelsea, Everton, Man City, Brighton and Burnley in a wretched run stretching back to January.
Souness seemed staggered by the state of this Liverpool side.
🗣 "It beggars belief how a team can go from being so good to so average."
Graeme Souness has questioned the attitude of Liverpool's players after they slumped to a sixth successive defeat at Anfield. pic.twitter.com/KAkG2WNftl
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 7, 2021
He initially berated Klopp for picking a starting lineup with seven changes included, many of whom are not regular starters.
For the Liverpool legend, this “handed the initiative” to Fulham and effectively conducted Scott Parker’s team talk for him.
When asked how low this current Liverpool side could go, Souness said it is “unfathomable” and that it “beggars belief”.
He said: “It beggars belief how a team can go from being so good to so average.”
Liverpool have lost their SIXTH consecutive match at Anfield 😳 pic.twitter.com/lBHsLsWqUl
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) March 7, 2021
Despite disagreeing with his team selection, the 67-year-old Scot did not single Jurgen Klopp out for specific criticism. He believes the players have a lot to answer for.
“It’s okay asking questions about the manager,” said Souness, “but it’s about players.”
Although many fringe players featured against Fulham, Souness put the spotlight on the squad’s senior members.
“Jurgen Klopp at this time has found out exactly what he’s got in his dressing room. Some of them have not stood up to the challenge.
“When you’re a big player and you win a trophy, enjoy it for a week. Then it’s about next season.”
Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson once remarked that the hardest thing in football isn’t winning the title – it’s retaining it.
These words clearly resonated with Souness and former Man Utd captain Roy Keane, a fellow pundit on Sky Sports.
Keane echoed Souness’ sentiments when he questioned the togetherness of the Liverpool squad.
🗣"They are not playing as a team, it is crisis time for Liverpool"
Roy Keane's honest assessment of Liverpool's title defence this season pic.twitter.com/6ppfxXkWTJ
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) March 7, 2021
Keane said: “They are not playing as a team, it is crisis time for Liverpool.”
