Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool are now outsiders for a top 4 finish, after his former side suffered a 2-0 defeat to Hull City.
Goals by Alfred N’Diaye and Oumar Niasse ensured Liverpool’s worst winless league run under Jurgen Klopp stretched to five games.
And Carragher now feels his former side will struggle to grasp a top 4 place.
“I imagine after the weekend they’ll be outside the top four and they will be outsiders now,” Carragher told Sky Sports.
“People will keep saying they have played a lot of the top teams but in their next home games they have got Tottenham and Arsenal.
“You would expect them to do well in those games, they always do, but the majority of matches they have struggled in have come against teams in the bottom half of the table. That’s where they have major problems.
“Off the back of the cup exits, the only thing left for Liverpool is to qualify for the Champions League. If they do, I still think it would make a successful season.
“Liverpool have got the sixth-best squad in the league for me, but I think the quality of the manager puts them where they are.”
Despite the return of Sadio Mane from Africa Cup of Nations duty, the visitors struggled to create opportunities at the KCOM Stadium, leading Carragher to call for changes.
“It’s getting to the stage now when Liverpool have got to have a different plan,” Carragher added.
“We talk about a Plan B but Liverpool have just one plan. It worked outstanding in the first four or five months of the season but they are in a sticky patch at the moment and I think it’s obvious how you set up against them.
“You make it difficult through the centre of the pitch and you counter attack. That’s what Hull did and they did it outstandingly well.”
“I would take Emre Can out of the midfield. I don’t think it works as a two alongside Jordon Henderson.
“I don’t understand why Georginio Wijnaldum was out of the side. I think he brings more energy and a bigger goal threat.
“Maybe change the system of three central midfielders and three attacking players? You could go for a more conventional two central midfielders, a number 10 and a front three. You would have more attacking players on the pitch against sides like Hull.
“The changes from the bench have got to come a lot quicker too. It takes too long to make a change and they will very rarely make a substitution at half-time.”
