Liverpool’s Premier League title hopes are now hanging by a thread after their 2-2 draw at West Ham United.
Even the most ardent of fans know that this is over, it’s just a case of waiting for that time to come because Manchester City and Arsenal aren’t dropping the points needed.
Everyone will be talking about the Mohamed Salah and Jurgen Klopp fall out, even if Liverpool had won at the London Stadium, it still would have been a major talking point.
But whilst that dominates the headlines for the wrong reasons, the actual performance from the team was very worrying, once again!
After losing to Crystal Palace a number of weeks ago, you thought there would be a reaction, there was one of some sort against Fulham.
But normal service resumed in the worst game possible, against Everton in the Merseyside defeat where Klopp’s side fell to a deserved defeat.
Once again, the Liverpool players had time to react, but issues, in attack and defence, reared their ugly heads again.
Alan Shearer highlighted two players that left him puzzled and frustrated against the Hammers – Cody Gakpo and Luiz Diaz.
With Salah and Darwin Nunez dropping to the bench, Gakpo and Diaz started, but Shearer questioned their decision-making in the final third, as he told Match of the Day.
From the Dutch star deciding to ‘pirouette’ when he should have just taken the ball normally and run through on goal to Diaz’s ‘terrible’ decision-making when going offside.
All of it left the Premier League’s all-time leading scorer baffled, as he explained in his post-match analysis.
Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz
“They were poor all over the pitch, particularly up front,” said Shearer. “There were so many bad decisions and so poor in forward positions. I think that’s a simple pass across (from Gakpo). I think that’s an easy ball to knock across there.
“I don’t know what Gakpo is doing here, if he steps to the other side of the ball, then the defender can’t get anywhere near it. He tries to then do some sort of pirouette, full turn and flick it over his head. Okay, there might not be enough pace on the ball, but he tends to come back into the defender.
“Diaz is offside. Terrible decision, you are looking right across the pitch. There is no need to be offside there, you can see where the defender is. Again a poor decision.”
What next for Liverpool?
You have to question what the team does now. Everything seems to be going wrong and all at the wrong time.
Klopp will be leaving soon, yet it feels like he is going to head for the exit door under a dark cloud.
Arne Slot will be watching on with interest, but these players need to ensure that their manager has the perfect send-off.
It’s Tottenham up next for the Reds, win that, with Salah scoring and quickly they will find that the negative stories will change.
The post 'I don't know what he's doing here': Alan Shearer blasts Liverpool duo after 2-2 draw v West Ham appeared first on TBR Football.