Liverpool theory dismissed as new locker room concern raised - 'Not the first time'

Former Liverpool goalkeeper David James has dismissed suggestions that his old side is missing any of the players who departed during the summer, despite the Reds’ poor run of form over recent weeks.

Arne Slot’s side fell to its sixth defeat in the last seven games on Wednesday as it was knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Crystal Palace — already the third time Liverpool has tasted defeat against the Eagles this season.

That has turned up the pressure even more on Slot and his side now, with the Premier League title defense in real danger of being completely derailed if results continue in the same manner, while there has been some talk over the head coach’s future.

Slot is not thought to be under pressure for his job internally, but his team’s dismal form has raised serious questions about Liverpool’s summer transfer business.

A major overhaul saw the likes of Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, and Jeremie Frimpong brought in at great expense, while there were a number of high-profile departures, including Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Diaz, and Darwin Nunez.

Plenty of pundits have suggested that the Reds are missing those players that left — in particular, Alexander-Arnold — but James doesn’t buy into that theory. The former Liverpool and England keeper, though, did express concerns over the way in which the new arrivals may have been introduced.

Asked whether Liverpool is missing any of the players it offloaded in the summer, James told Liverpool.com (via AskGamblers): “No is a simple answer.

“I think what they've recruited are quality players. I don't think there's a question about that. I'm trying to think of the last time Liverpool did such a reshuffle with personnel.

“I was talking about it with a friend after the game on the weekend, and this isn't the first time Liverpool have gone through a sticky patch.

“It's not the first time under Arne (Slot), not this many defeats in a row of course, but there were a couple of patches where things weren't going particularly well, and I just question whether, with such a shuffle in the changing room, who's going to be the authoritative figure and how do the new players respond. Because, like I said with [Giorgi] Mamardashvili, playing for Liverpool isn't playing for a normal team, it isn't just playing for a big club, you're playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world.

“There's a lot of expectation, current champions, and there's the expectation to retain that Premier League title. So the question then is, how does the conversation go on within the changing room, within the training ground, whatever, and Arne Slot will have to teach and encourage the right conversations to get the right performances.”

Liverpool faces a difficult task to turn its form around before the upcoming November international break, with three tough games over the next week or so.

An in-form Aston Villa visits Anfield first on Saturday before the Reds host Real Madrid — and of course, Alexander-Arnold - in the Champions League on Tuesday. A trip to Manchester City then follows on November 9, with Liverpool desperate to narrow the seven-point gap to league leader Arsenal.

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