Graeme Souness says Jurgen Klopp will have been left disappointed by the reaction of some Liverpool players to their poor form this season.
Having endured a disappointing season, the Reds now face a real fight to make the top four and have it all to do in the Champions League quarter-final tie after a 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the first leg in midweek.
Jurgen Klopp's side has suffered from a multitude of injuries, particularly in defence, which has impacted their form, but Souness says the manager will still have been left disappointed by an apparent lack of leaders in the Anfield dressing room when the usual senior players have been absent through injury.
Speaking ahead of Liverpool's game against Aston Villa, Souness said not many of the Reds' squad players have stood up to be counted this season.
He said: "Liverpool this year, yeah, they can point to injuries and it’s hurt them badly but some people have not responded very well to not having the big players around them.
"As a manager, you look at the dressing room when things aren’t going well and see what you’ve got in there.
"I think the manager, it hurts me to say it, I think he’ll be disappointed with certain individuals.
"They’ve not stood up and said: ‘Look, I’m now going to be the main man. I’m going to take us places, I’m going to make all of them believe in me and carry us through the difficult times’.
"I don’t think there’s been enough of that this year.”
