Former Liverpool star Graeme Souness has said that three current players had a bad day at the office in the 2-2 draw against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.
The Reds let a two-goal lead slip five minutes before half time and neither side were able to take the lead in the second half.
In a game in which Liverpool were without goalkeeper Alisson, Joel Matip and Roberto Firmino due to Covid-19, it was the middle of the park where the Reds lost control of the game, despite fielding what was a very strong midfield.
Jurgen Klopp, who was also out after testing positive for Covid, had Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and James Milner start at Stamford Bridge but Souness felt that they were poor in the draw before adding that the team missed the control of Thiago Alcantara on Sunday afternoon.
READ MORE: Liverpool player ratings as Sadio Mane impresses but three poor at Chelsea
LIVE: Pep Lijnders press conference, reaction and how Chelsea vs Liverpool unfolded
"Chelsea bossed midfield today. Liverpool have a great success by pushing up, all three parts of the team all being in contact with each other," Souness said on Sky Sports.
"It only works when the midfield of Liverpool are putting the opposition under pressure, every time they get the ball and keeping the midfielders’ head down and the strikers’ head down and you can’t hold a high line.
‘In the Liverpool teams I played in we knew there would be half a dozen times where we’d get caught by holding a high line that might cost you a goal but the advantages over the rest of the season by playing that way you win more games than lose.
"Liverpool this year, Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and James Milner were not at the races today.
"They were bossed and bullied by Chelsea’s midfield.
Vote for your Liverpool Man of the Match HERE
"The possession stats tell you that, 130 more passes tells you that and it wasn’t the Liverpool we’ve seen the last three or four years where they bully teams.
"Liverpool need more of a maestro in there, Thiago is certainly a better footballer than what they have but by doing that you lose that in momentum in terms of pressing and being on the front foot.
"They were exposed today Liverpool by the midfield not really managing to control Chelsea."
