Liverpool legend John Barnes has hinted at the transfers Manchester City might need to make if they are to catch the Reds next season.
Pep Guardiola's side finished way off the pace as Jurgen Klopp's men claimed a maiden Premier League title in June.
And Barnes, who won two league titles during his time at Anfield, has pointed out one of the key differences between the two teams is in the midfield area of the pitch.
The Reds have of course been heavily linked with Bayern Munich star Thiago Alcantara in recent weeks. But Barnes has, in making his comparison, doubted whether Liverpool need to bring in such a player.
He told the BBC: "With the midfield being very workmanlike, they are a lot of points better off than everybody else.
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"The reason you can have two full-backs attacking at the same time and three strikers is because they have three hard-working midfielders to protect that situation.
"If you get another creative midfielder and you want your full-backs and front three to attack, then maybe you are going to concede more goals.
"Manchester City have got how many creative players in their midfield? But Liverpool finished 20-odd points ahead of them.
"Maybe Manchester City should say: 'Let's get more hard-working players in midfield so we can catch Liverpool.'"
Asked whether Liverpool will have to make a move in the market this summer, Barnes added: "I don't even think it is the coronavirus pandemic.
"I don't necessarily think they need to make huge signings.
"Jurgen Klopp likes the harmony of the squad. Maybe he has to get more squad signings but not big-name signings necessarily going into the first XI."
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