Paul Merson has expressed his concerns regarding Liverpool's defensive vulnerabilities, claiming Jurgen Klopp's side must get back to being a 'strong' team.
The Reds shipped three goals in their previous Premier League outing away at Brentford last weekend, in what was a rare off-day for Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip.
Both defenders have appeared on top form so far this term since returning from their long-term injuries, with Chelsea the only other Premier League side to breach the Reds' rearguard.
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But Merson believes Liverpool have become exposed in recent weeks as he warned that the team must go back to basics with their defending.
"They’re great to watch but it’s too open, too open," said the former Arsenal defender on Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday.
"AC Milan went there a few weeks ago and scored two goals, Palace could’ve scored a couple before Liverpool got going. They’re wide open and it might cause problems.
"I think they’re a bit lackadaisical at the minute. Van Dijk is trying to get full fitness and is still playing one-v-one at the back when he’s coming back from a long injury. I think they’ve got to get back to being a strong team."
The Sky Sports pundit is also unconvinced by elements of the Reds' play at the opposite end of the pitch.
Despite scoring a remarkable 20 goals in the month of September, Merson has criticised the team's inability to convert more chances and believes it could cost Liverpool come the end of the season.
"They’ll score goals, but they’re still one of the most wasteful football teams in the league," he said.
"The other night [against Porto] they’re on top and who’s for me to say about Salah, unbelievable, but he’s trying to dink it over the keeper. I’m not worried about Porto, seriously.
"These points are going to be vital at the end, I think. Liverpool, Chelsea, Man City - there won’t be a lot in it.
"They were wasteful against Leeds, it could’ve been six or seven or eight-nil. Tomorrow, they should open the game up because they’ve got better finishers than Man City and better goalscorers than Man City."
