Belgrade horror show illustrates gap between Liverpool and City

ASKED after this week’s Champions League defeat to Red Star Belgrade, if he could put his finger on why Liverpool were so poor, Jurgen Klopp said he didn’t have enough fingers.

It was one of the worst Liverpool performances of the Klopp era and I am sure the manager (left) accepts some responsibility.

If you wanted evidence why Liverpool are so far behind Manchester City, it was provided in Belgrade on Tuesday evening. As they demonstrated when they played in Ukraine against Shakhtar Donetsk earlier in the competition, City can control games.

They have stronger personnel who are better passers of the ball with the ability to keep hold of it.

On Tuesday, James Milner had probably his worst game for a year, Georginio Wijnaldum was in there for his energy but was off the pace and Adam Lallana was as ineffective as you will ever see. You have to question Klopp’s team selection.

I understand his thinking if he wanted to give players game-time, and, if there was a time to do it, it was probably against a team who had conceded 10 goals in the last two games.

But equally, a win would have virtually guaranteed Liverpool’s qualification with the two games against PSG and Napoli to come. It was always going to be an intimidating atmosphere in Belgrade where the Italians were held to a goalless draw. Surely you have to play your best side.

Overall, it was a substandard Liverpool performance and even though they had 85 per cent possession in the second-half, they created virtually nothing. They had chances but I don’t think Liverpool did nearly enough to hurt Red Star.