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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Charlotte Coates

Liverpool 'massive problem' identified as Harvey Elliott position questioned

Steve McManaman highlighted how Liverpool's two points form a possible nine in the Premier League this season is a 'massive problem' after the Reds lost 2-1 at Manchester United on Monday night.

Jadon Sancho put United in front in the first half after some poor defending from Liverpool failed to close the England international down. Marcus Rashford extended United's lead in the second half before Mohamed Salah pulled a goal back for the Reds.

Former Liverpool midfielder Paul Ince said Liverpool looked 'slow and lethargic' during their loss at Old Trafford and this is something that could be said about the Reds for their previous two games in the Premier League also.

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McManaman was speaking to Optus Sport about Liverpool's loss to United and how the Reds are in the habit of falling behind in games recently.

"Last season when they went behind they were winning games so that papered over the cracks to an extent," said the ex-Red. "Fulham they were slow, started great against Manchester City but subsequently they’ve started slow every time, you knew after five or 10 minutes they were in trouble and at the races.

"The warning sign was Elanga’s chance when he ran down and cut between Trent and Gomez, they couldn’t deal with it and they still kept playing as if they were winning 4-0. It was only a matter of time they were going to get caught and when they did get caught that’s when it’s ‘uh oh, we need to sharpen up’ but it’s too late in games.

"These games are more than just playing nice and scoring goals, this is Liverpool versus Manchester United, last season Liverpool battered them and got all the glory, they have to take it because they were nowhere near good enough. All that matters is the result and Liverpool are languishing at the bottom of the league, they’ll get out of it, but they’ve got two points out of a possible nine which is a massive problem."

Ince believes Liverpool didn't look comfortable with the set-up of the team from the first minute at Old Trafford.

"There was no intensity, no rhythm. Fabinho comes on second half they’re a different team, took Henderson off and no disrespect to Milner but he’s played the whole game. I felt from minute one, they didn’t look comfortable in how they set the team up," Ince added.

"Harvey Elliott in the holding position, at Blackburn he was on the left scoring 15 goals a season, now he’s in a holding position. Slow, lethargic."

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