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Former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann has agreed with Jamie Carragher's assessment that the Reds need to tighten up at the back if they are to achieve their aims this season.
Against Crystal Palace and Bournemouth so far in this campaign, with the first of those fixtures being the Community Shield, Liverpool has conceded two goals. Arne Slot's men have looked exposed on the counter-attack at times, in contrast to the control they exerted in 2024/25.
"I think if you look at the 90 minutes, I think you never felt they were really in control of the game," Hamann said on talkSPORT. "This is something I think where they've been really good last season. It was end-to-end stuff.
"They struggled to create chances over the 90 minutes and also allowed quite a few. I think if you don't control games without the ball, it makes it even harder to control it with the ball.
"I think part of it, or the reason was that defensively, they've been pretty fragile as they've been against Palace. Milos Kerkez struggled (in) both games so far. Jeremie Frimpong, for all his power going forward, his pace, he's not a right-back.
"I think this is something they have to address because without Trent (Alexander-Arnold) in the team, I think the dynamics in the team will change."
Liverpool has also taken too many risks in the final third. Against Bournemouth, when the ball was lost on the edge of the opposition penalty area, eight outfield players were ahead of it.
That left Antoine Semenyo a free run all the way to the other end of the field, where he put the ball past Alisson Becker.
"The other thing, I think in possession, they've been really good as well last season because they tire a team out and score late on when they faded," Hamann said.
"With Trent, you had one of the best ball-players in the Premier League, a right-back. He came inside sometimes.
"I think what happened with Trent in the team, because obviously a lot has been made, whether he's been missed or not, I think if Trent was on the ball and had a three or four-yard space and a bit of time on the ball, I think what did happen, the teams dropped off because they knew if he needs to put a ball on a six-pence, he will do.
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"I think what it did is it stretched teams, even by him being on the pitch and being in possession.
"I think it gave everybody else in the team a little bit more time in midfield and also up top because with his passing ability, he did stretch teams because people were scared of his passing.
"Obviously, this is something they won't have this season because Frimpong is a completely different player."
Liverpool is next in action a week today with a trip to St James' Park to take on Newcastle United. It then hosts Arsenal the weekend after that.
Liverpool.com says: As Jamie Carragher said on Sky Sports, Slot does need to get the balance right. Liverpool wants to be attack-minded and front-foot in the way that it plays, but it can't concede twice every week. Federico Chiesa will not be there to pop up with a late winner all the time.
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