Liverpool have lost four games on the spin in the Premier League and their latest setback came under controversial circumstances at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Arne Slot’s side slipped to another damaging defeat on Saturday night after being beaten 3-2 by Brentford, adding to recent defeats against Manchester United, Chelsea and Crystal Palace.
The defending Premier League champions are now sat seventh in the table, seven points behind leaders Arsenal, and Wayne Rooney has concerns about the leadership within the team.
“Three or four weeks ago no one saw this coming. It has hit them quick, it’s hit them hard and I think they’re struggling to find a way out of it,” the former England and Manchester United striker said on his podcast this weekend.
“This is a time where the manager, the leaders in the team need to figure it out very quickly. (Virgil) Van Dijk and (Mohamed) Salah signed new deals, but I don’t think they’ve really lead that team this season, with performances and body language.
“Body language tells you a lot and I think we are seeing slightly different body language from the two of them. They are the top two players in that team. If their body language isn’t right that affects everyone else.
“If I was a Liverpool fan or the manager that would be a big concern for me.”
Hooper praised for role in Liverpool penalty decision
Van Dijk was furious about the decision to award Brentford a penalty for his challenge on Dango Ouattara during the second half, a call that was made by back-up referee Tim Robinson after Simon Hooper had to be replaced due to an injury.
Hooper had his own controversy to deal with in the first half however, neglecting to award Liverpool a penalty after Nathan Collins tangled with Cody Gakpo.
The incident has now been reviewed by former PGMOL referee Dermot Gallagher, who labelled the decision “marvellous”.
“When you look, Nathan Collins plants his foot, he does no more, he doesn’t make a challenge, I think Gakpo anticipates the challenge, it doesn’t come and he goes over, it’s not a foul,” he said on Sky Sports’ ref review show.
He continued: “I think Simon Hooper has done really marvellous there. Because it does look a penalty, there’s no doubt it looks a penalty… you look at the replay and you see it’s so different. But Simon Hooper has one look, makes one decision, gets it right.”
While it certainly would have been a soft penalty, Liverpool fans will be incensed by Gallagher’s claims that Collins “doesn’t make a challenge”, but they can have little complaints about the final score.
Brentford were just the latest team to walk away with a higher expected goals rate than the Reds, and Arne Slot’s side are being outfought on a weekly basis, which will be the most worrying aspect of the current rut for owners FSG, who pumped huge funds into the Dutchman’s squad this summer.
Whether conversations begin about the manager’s future may be determined by their fixtures prior to the November international break, as they face Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, Real Madrid and Man City in the next four.
