Paul Scholes says Florian Wirtz forced Arne Slot change that 'doesn't suit Liverpool'

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Paul Scholes has criticised Liverpool's possession-based style under Arne Slot, singling out Florian Wirtz's influence and claiming Anfield has become 'one of the easiest places to play'

Paul Scholes has been critical of Liverpool(Image: YouTube/The Good, the Bad and the Football podcast)

Liverpool's possession-oriented approach under Arne Slot this season has transformed Anfield into a more accommodating venue for visiting teams, according to Paul Scholes.

Liverpool salvaged a 1-1 draw against struggling Tottenham on Sunday and are now engaged in a genuine battle to secure Champions League football for next season.

Dominik Szoboszlai's free-kick looked set to deliver the Reds a slender home victory until some sloppy defending allowed Richarlison a straightforward finish in the 90th minute. Tottenham had suffered five consecutive league defeats yet still managed to fashion several promising opportunities and departed Anfield with a well-earned point. This means Slot's team have now registered four draws and three defeats at home in the Premier League this campaign.

Jamie Carragher was on co-commentary duties for Sky Sports during the Spurs match and discussed the absence of the pressing and intensity that characterised the side under Jurgen Klopp.

And Scholes highlighted the acquisition of Florian Wirtz in the summer as evidence of the shift in philosophy under Slot. "Anfield was always the toughest place to go," he said on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast.

"Jamie Carragher mentioned it loads of times, you had the fans on top of you and the players on top of you. They've lost that determination to stop the other team. It's just not there any more. They've become almost a possession-based team. Florian Wirtz is a brilliant, brilliant footballer but I think he's made them more into a possession team.

"I think under Klopp and probably under past managers as well at Liverpool, the last thing they're thinking about at home is playing football.

"They're just thinking about kicking the s--- out of you and steamrolling you and stopping you from playing. Now this last year and a half it's become probably one of the easiest places to play and you'd never say that about Anfield."

Florian Wirtz has had a mixed first season(Image: Lewis Storey, Getty Images)

Wirtz joined Liverpool alongside Alexander Isak, Milos Kerkez, Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong as the Reds sought to refresh their championship-winning side. This season has seen inconsistent displays, with Scholes suggesting the problem lies in their defensive work when possession is lost.

"They won the league, brilliant, they won it quite early last year," he commented. "Naturally, you are going to drop off a bit but the signs were there towards the end of last year they've lost the determination to stop the opposition. They're still good, they still want to be a nice pretty football team - but you've got to stop the other team."

He continued: "When we talk about philosophies of managers and football clubs - how many times did we speak about Ruben Amorim coming to United with his own philosophy playing the way he wanted? Man United had their own philosophy, I think it's almost a similar way for Liverpool.

"Liverpool isn't a possession team, they're just not - they're all over you like a Jurgen Klopp team. Now he's (Slot) trying to do it a little bit different and I just don't think it suits Liverpool."