Jamie Carragher has explained why he believes Liverpool’s front three must be broken up this summer.
Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino have all been instrumental in the Reds’ success over the past couple of years.
But this season there has been a drop off from all three, with the arrival of Diogo Jota also resulting in more rotation than usual for Firmino and Mane in recent months.
So far this season, only Salah, with 29 goals to his name, has managed to replicate the form Reds fans have become accustomed to over the last few seasons.
And Carragher believes amid all the talk about Liverpool’s defensive problems, it is important his old side move with the times this summer and look to freshen up their attack.
He said: "People have talked about the forward line being out of form, but it's been too long now for that [to be used as an argument].
“People keep talking about Liverpool's problems at centre-back, but their biggest problem is at the other end of the pitch.
"We know that both Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez will be back next season. Liverpool's famous front three, and rightly so, are still there.
“They've had the added bonus of Diogo Jota, who's chipped in with a few goals, but I said this six months ago on Monday Night Football - the front three needed breaking up because no front three is ever together for this long.
"When you look at other great attacking partnerships and front threes from the past, they last probably three years and then you move on.
“Liverpool's have been together for probably four or five years so it does need breaking up in the summer.
“That's where Liverpool need to invest, as they do at centre-back of course. It's actually quite similar to Manchester United, but that's where Liverpool need to spend the money.
"The front three have been amazing but it's just at that stage now where it needs something else and it must be rectified in the summer when you think of the chances that have been missed this season.
“You have to move with the times, and an extra bit of competition up front wouldn't go amiss."
Liverpool head to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United tomorrow four points off the Champions League places with five Premier League games remaining.
And Carragher believes a win for his old side against their arch-rivals would give them belief in the race for the top-four.
He said: "With the run-in, I looked at it before the result against Newcastle and thought Liverpool may have to win every game taking out the trip to Old Trafford.
"If they were to now win this weekend, that would balance it up. Liverpool basically need to win every game from now until the end of the season.
"All the other games look really winnable on paper, but that's been their problem all year. You can't really trust them to win a game on paper you expect them to.
“There's not too much confidence, but a lot of the belief could be restored off the back of three points at Old Trafford."
Before the Liverpool great added in a chat with Sky Sports : "If they had [beat Newcastle United last weekend], Liverpool would still be going into this game with Man Utd buoyant and confident of getting a Champions League place for next season.
“Now, mentally people may be thinking the Champions League is just too far out of reach.
"That's certainly how most people with a Liverpool hat on have felt going into this game.
"But that would completely change if Liverpool can win the game. It will be a tough ask the way that both teams are playing at the moment, and the problems that Liverpool have at centre-back as we all know."
