Micah Richards thinks Newcastle United's injury problems have had a massive bearing on the club's poor form.
The Magpies are without a victory in six straight games and are now just two points above the relegation zone with nine matches remaining of the Premier League season.
Saturday's 3-0 defeat to relegation rivals Brighton & Hove Albion may have been the lowest point of the campaign for Newcastle supporters, which is saying something.
However, Richards - who played under Steve Bruce at Aston Villa - believes his former manager is having to contend with problems similar to what Liverpool have had this season.
The Reds, who were crowned champions of England for the first time in 30 years in the 2019/20 season, are down in seventh-place now, and a lot has been made about the injuries they have suffered to key players.
The Magpies are currently without attacking duo: Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin through injury, and were without Miguel Almiron, who recently returned to action.
Richards said on BBC Radio 5 Live's 'Monday Night Club' podcast: “ Saint-Maximin, Wilson and Almiron - look at Liverpool this season without Van Dijk.
"They’ve had to put central midfielders at the back and if Van Dijk was there, that wouldn’t have happened.
"Newcastle have not got the same calibre of player as Liverpool, so when you’re talking about ‘it’s damaging’, it’s more than damaging, it’s horrendous for a team that’s in that position.
"I’m not making excuses for Steve Bruce, I’m not at all, but I’m saying that if they had been fit for more games, then it would be a more accurate assessment of where Newcastle would be right now.”
