Former Liverpool defender Jose Enrique has urged Jurgen Klopp to follow the example set by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.
Cody Gakpo was the only January arrival, despite the Reds having plenty of ground to make up this season. The Citizens meanwhile made the shock decision to allow Joao Cancelo to leave on loan as he signed for Bayern Munich.
It comes after the former Barcelona manager admitted his team can't remain successful without changing aspects of the side. They pipped the Reds to the Premier League title last season but have seen some standards slip.
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Liverpool's alarming dip is up for debate but Enrique insists that the team are worse than last year. "I think Klopp has been a bit too loyal to certain players," he told Best Gambling Sites.
"Pep Guardiola spoke about it not long ago which we can see with the way Cancelo has left Manchester City, it’s the same problem."
The Reds manager recently addressed claims that he has been too loyal to his players. He was probed on the matter following chastening defeats to Brentford and Brighton.
"I am loyal, I think everyone should be loyal, but I am not too loyal," he said. "The problem is too complex. You have a good player who did a lot of good stuff in the past and then maybe, in your mind, you think: ‘That’s it for him now.’
"If you can then go out and bring in another player to replace him then it makes sense from both sides to say: ‘Come on, it was a great time, see you later.’ If you cannot bring anybody in then you cannot take anyone out, that’s the situation."
But Enrique has argued that the lack of foresight when it comes to transfers has left Liverpool lacking. Following their pursuit of a quadruple last season, they now find themselves out of both domestic cup competitions, 10 points off the top four and facing Real Madrid in the last-16 of the Champions League.
"Other than that - not improving the team when you are doing well. In football, you can’t win all the time especially considering the spending of the top teams. But Liverpool have to be up there trying to compete for trophies," the former left-back continued.
"That’s the sad thing, after last season where we fought for every trophy possible whereas this season Liverpool are struggling to get in the top six. It’s because the team this year is actually worse than last year - this shouldn’t happen.
"So a big problem was not improving the team when it needed to be improved, and now they have a big problem because you have to fight for a higher position in the table."
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