Thiago Alcantara is part of the reason Liverpool's midfield have struggled this season, according to former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino.
Just days after their 3-1 mauling at Brentford, Jurgen Klopp's side once again produced another lacklustre performance as they began their defence of the FA Cup, drawing 2-2 with Premier League counterparts Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Despite the Reds boss naming a virtually first-choice XI, Julen Lopetegui's men outfought and outbattled Liverpool for large parts of the game and will feel hard done by that they were unable to claim their third cup shock over the Reds in six years as a contentious late goal was chalked off for the visitors.
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After the game, Klopp admitted he was unimpressed with the way in which Wolves were able to break through the Reds' midfield and revealed that he was dissatisfied with the lack of duels his side lost in the middle of the park.
Those thoughts have been echoed by Cascarino, who has bizarrely singled out the Reds' Spaniard in midfield as the reason for the struggle for large parts of the season.
Speaking to talkSPORT, the former Republic of Ireland international said: “My biggest problem with Liverpool is that I think Klopp’s idea is flawed around Thiago.
“He is a fabulous, talented footballer but, all the time he is in that midfield, the ball keeps going to him. And, yes, he is really comfortable on it and he can make things happen. He’s technically gifted.
“He’s up there with the very best I’ve seen but I just think it affects Liverpool’s style completely.
“They lose possession and teams keep coming at them and go through Liverpool like a knife through butter. I’ve seen Leeds do it to Liverpool at Anfield this year. I’ve seen Leicester do it to Liverpool. And I’ve seen, yesterday, Wolves, again.
“These are without mentioning Fulham at the start of the season, Napoli in the Champions League, and Man United away."
He added: “Liverpool are playing a style that I believe is flawed with Thiago in there because I just think it changes the whole way Liverpool managed the midfield before.
“Holding midfielders are really important in the modern game. You have to have a ball-winner. Kalvin Phillips did it for Leeds. Look at Kante being missing at Chelsea and what’s happened. They can’t do the same things at Chelsea.
“Casemiro coming into Manchester United completely changes their dynamic because he wins the ball and he keeps the ball. You can go on, Rodri at Man City.
“Holding midfielders are really important. Liverpool are missing that type of player. It’s not because Thiago is not a fabulous footballer, because he clearly is. I just think the style is flawed with him in it.”
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