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Alan Shearer says that Liverpool provided nothing in attack during the team's 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest at Anfield.
Shearer, the Premier League's all-time leading scorer, highlighted Virgil Van Dijk's post-match comments, where the Reds' skipper acknowledged they were shipping too many soft goals, with Shearer suggesting those remarks would be worrying.
On 'The Rest Is Football' podcast, Gary Lineker posed the question to his co-pundits: "Can someone try and explain what the hell has happened to Liverpool? It's baffling, isn't it? It just shows you as well how important confidence is in football.
"Last season, it was all going well, and they hardly lose a game; they're playing some great football, and then suddenly, a couple of new players come in, and they don't quite gel. They're trying to find their feet, and then the results go against you.
"All of a sudden, you're scrambling to find a result, and the head plays an important part in football. You look at their squad, and you go, 'Why is this happening?' Momentum shift, or the belief, football is crazy at times."
Shearer replied: "I mean, they had a couple of chances in the first 25 minutes or so, Liverpool, but they didn't take them. You can see them sort of shrink when Forest got that first goal. It was like, 'Come on then, what have you got?'
"They offered nothing. You'd be slightly concerned at Virgil's comments after the game when he was talking about his players and the lack of reaction or lack of fight, whatever.
"We always say that we see the best players - it's very easy when things are going well for you, full of confidence, winning games and battering teams every single week. Alright, but you see your big, proper characters when it's not going well for you.
"When you're losing games, and those players are still prepared to get on the ball and not be afraid to make mistakes."
Micah Richards praised Forest for its display, but suggested that the tragic passing of Diogo Jota has undoubtedly contributed to Liverpool's difficulties this campaign.
He said: "You talk about environments, the death of Jota has to have played a part in what's going on this season. It must have because it doesn't feel right. Half of the players are probably still grieving.
"Imagine having a teammate you become like family members with. Sadly, I lost my uncle just last week as well... When there's a death, you start overthinking. Could I have done this? Could I have done that better?
"Your relationships in the dressing room; it has to have had an effect. I don't care what anyone says. This isn't me making excuses for Liverpool, but it's the human side. Football isn't just about technical ability and physical output. It's about the mental side as well, and what they're going through at the moment is showing on the pitch. It has to have had an effect."
Both Shearer and Lineker agreed with Richards' assessment.
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