Steven Gerrard names moment that Liverpool's problems under Arne Slot began

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Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard is hopeful that Arne Slot can turn things around at Anfield, but he feels this season's problems began last term, even before the title was won

Steven Gerrard working as a pundit on TNT Sports.(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Steven Gerrard says he spotted signs that Liverpool was struggling well before this season began under Arne Slot, with one game in the Premier League title-winning season causing concern.

After a big summer of transfers, Liverpool has failed to find consistency and is playing catch-up in the race to nail down a Champions League place as a result. But while Gerrard says he is desperate for Slot to turn things around, he also explained that some of the problems that the Reds are trying to overcome started over a year ago.

"The first signs of the issues they have got now, I saw in the League Cup final (against Newcastle just over a year ago)," Gerrard said on the Stick To Football podcast, sponsored by Sky Bet.

"I traveled over and took my lad to the game. I traveled over confident that Liverpool would win, even though I like how Eddie Howe sets his teams up.

"I knew it would be a difficult game, but they just bullied them from start to finish. That was the first time I thought they were so far away from what I was watching before.

"As the league finished, there were a lot of these types of performances. Quite passive, disconnected, out of shape, easy to get through, giving big chances up. You're seeing it a lot more in recent weeks.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

"I think some of the issues they're having this season, for me, watching as a fan from the outside and from afar, and going to some games, it's been happening at the back end of last season as well."

This season, the Premier League has become much more set-piece focused, and most teams are more physical than ever. It was a pattern that Liverpool didn't appear to see coming.

"I have really enjoyed watching them in the Champions League and they look like a completely different team," Gerrard added.

"I think that they are in a decent place there but in the league, they look very different. I haven’t really enjoyed watching them.

"They look as if they’ve got a lot of issues to fix and after the game it’s been difficult to put a finger on one issue that they have got.

"They have quite a few and they are all over the pitch. They are very mixed and two-faced this season. There are a lot of these types of performances that don’t look like the previous Liverpool team."

Liverpool.com says: Gerrard is right about the issues that the Reds are facing in terms of physicality but there are also other factors at play too. The lack of speed in attack, for instance, is something that needs to be addressed in the summer transfer market.