Danny Murphy identifies 5 Liverpool players who have 'let down' Arne Slot

Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy says three of Arne Slot's men have "let down" their head coach this season, with the Reds struggling for consistent form

Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy.(Image: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Danny Murphy has sensationally claimed that five Liverpool players have "let down" Arne Slot this season, with the Reds struggling to find consistent form over the last few months.

After a summer of upheaval in which Liverpool spent around $600M but recouped half of that sum through some major player sales, Slot's side is playing catch-up in the race to qualify for the Champions League spots.

And, according to Murphy, there are five players who haven't been up to standard throughout the campaign to date, meaning the issues that Slot is facing with Liverpool are not all down to the Dutch head coach.

"I don't just blame Slot," Murphy said on talkSPORT. "Some of those players have let him down. They haven't got the character to play for Liverpool.

"Hugo Ekitike can keep his head high and Florian Wirtz has had a good few months, but Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez have struggled and aren't up to the level.

"Alexander Isak, when he played, looked so far off it, whether that was fitness or mentality.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

"There are big problems in the full back areas. Frimpong isn't as good as Trent; Kerkez can't do what Robertson did. I know Mohamed Salah scored last night but his all round game is struggling.

"Cody Gakpo has fallen off a cliff in comparison to his form last season. The creativity and firepower just isn't there."

Liverpool lost 2-1 to Wolves at Molineux and conceded a stoppage-time winner once again — the fifth time in the Premier League so far this season.

With limited other options to come into the starting XI, though, Slot didn't have much choice with the side he selected. Salah and Gakpo did not impress, but there are few other attackers to bring in.

Rio Ngumoha did well to an extent off the bench, but he is only 17 and cannot be the solution for every game. Federico Chiesa, meanwhile, has only ever really been a substitute option rather than a starter.

Liverpool plays Wolves again next, this time in the FA Cup. Ngumoha and Chiesa could come into the team for that game, with the Reds looking to book a place in the quarter-finals.

Liverpool.com says: Really, the biggest underperformance from Liverpool players this season has tended to be the ones who were there last season. Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister, for instance, haven't hit the same heights.

In the main, the likes of Ekitike, Wirtz and other new additions have shown that the future can be bright. There just needs to be more of them to ensure there is sufficient squad depth.