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Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has pinpointed a lack of physicality as a key factor in the club's current struggles. Arne Slot's team currently languishes in eighth place in the Premier League table, having managed just one domestic win since their five-match winning streak at the start of the 2025/26 season.
The November international break meant that Liverpool didn't play this past weekend, but that didn't stop questions about the club's poor form from cropping up on the Stick to Football podcast, where Carragher was a guest.
He stated: "If we're being totally honest, in the games they've lost, Liverpool can't handle the physicality of the Premier League this season. When you think of teams that lack something, they normally let you down away from home against teams that have a physical game."
Recent losses to Crystal Palace, Brentford, Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City have piled on the pressure, with four of these defeats coming away from Anfield - a point Carragher highlighted as a significant issue.
"Liverpool has gone missing away from home," he noted. "They're fine at Anfield. They've only lost one [this season] which was the Man United game. They're fine at home, they feel comfortable. I think Arne Slot wants to move Liverpool [forward]. Even though they won the league, every game went to the wire. He almost wants more football.
"When you heard him speak about Paris Saint-Germain last season, he was like 'oh my god, that's the football I want'. So when he played Man City last week, he was talking like Pep [Guardiola] was his hero and he probably is for a lot of coaches. That is his football.
"I think he's trying to push Liverpool a certain way and the Premier League has gone back in terms of physicality, so his team is probably a little bit weaker. Now everyone is just giants, there is long throws and set-pieces and they just can't cope."
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Carragher's forthright assessment also identified the only realistic option available to Liverpool: making signings during the January transfer window.
He continued: "I don't think this group of players are equipped to win the league this season. You look at the difference in the Champions League, they're fine. All of [Florian] Wirtz's best games have been in the Champions League.
"I think they'll have to recruit more physical players and maybe even in January. I've just seen the Semenyo [January release clause] come up and obviously he's got the link with [sporting director] Richard Hughes. When you actually look at him as a player, lightening quick, big and powerful.
"Liverpool don't have a lot of pace out wide, [Mohamed] Salah is not a flying machine, [Cody] Gakpo neither. I just think more pace in the team and physicality and power."
A lack of defensive depth has been problematic, particularly given Ibrahima Konate's injury issues, with Carragher issuing a stark transfer warning to Slot if the situation isn't addressed urgently.
"That was a bad mistake [not signing Marc Guehi]. Liverpool are known as being really smart in the market, not overpaying and really good at selling. That could cost them. I think if Liverpool don't sign a centre-back in January–
Roy Keane interrupted: "They'd miss out on the Champions League." Carragher replied: "I think they could."
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