Peter Crouch says it is "absolutely mental" that Liverpool squandered a three-goal lead against Red Bull Salzburg - and believes Jurgen Klopp will be concerned about their collapse.
The Champions League holders saw off a remarkable fightback from Red Bull Salzburg to win their Group E clash 4-3 at Anfield.
The Reds raced into a commanding lead with goals from Sadio Mane, Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah inside 36 minutes but started to go backwards when Hee-Chan Hwang pulled one back just before half-time.
Takumi Minamino set nerves jangling 10 minutes after the break and when substitute Erling Braut Haaland scored his 18th of the season four minutes after coming on, it appeared the European champions' homecoming would fall flat.
However, Salah took his tally to 12 in 13 Anfield Champions League appearances to secure a first victory in Group E - but Crouch is worried that his former team almost surrendered the victory.
“It was mental, absolutely mental,” Crouch said on BT Sport.
“ Liverpool were flying, playing some of the best attacking football I have seen from them this season. And then the second half, I don’t even know where to begin. 3-3, I just couldn’t have seen it, and then Salah pops up with the winner.
“An incredible match, highly entertaining, but for the wrong reasons for Liverpool in the end. They got a bit nervy Liverpool, you have to say.
“Once the first goal went in, then the second, Fabinho, whose normally so calm on the ball, was passing it out of play, they weren’t as intricate as they were in the first half.
“So it definitely affected them but the fourth goal killed them off and then they controlled the game and managed it out.”
