Roy Keane names Arsenal advantage in title race amid Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah concern

Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane has delivered a brutal assessment of Liverpool and outlined their biggest problem before the win against Eintracht Frankfurt

Roy Keane has pinpointed Liverpool’s defence as their main issue in a candid analysis before the Reds’ Champions League thrashing of Eintracht Frankfurt.

Arne Slot’s team had endured four consecutive defeats before Wednesday’s clash with Frankfurt, but they managed to bounce back from a 1-0 deficit to secure a 5-1 victory in the Champions League. Former Leeds right-back Rasmus Kristiansen gave Frankfurt an early lead, only for Liverpool to stage a rapid comeback, netting three times before half-time to flip the match on its head.

Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate all found the back of the net to make it 3-1, before Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai added further goals in the second half to seal the win for Slot’s Reds. The victory was much needed after Liverpool suffered losses against Crystal Palace, Galatasaray, Chelsea and Manchester United, scoring just three goals and letting in seven.

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In the latest episode of The Overlap, recorded prior to Liverpool’s face-off with Frankfurt, Keane highlighted where he believes the team’s most significant problem lies this season.

Keane said: “I think the biggest problem is defensively, going forward there is still a goal threat, they have got quality. But defensively… We said at the start of the season going back to the Community Shield, they were giving chances away but were still scoring.

“Now that has dried up they are still giving up loads of chances and loads of goals. That is the biggest issue. Arsenal are attacking and defending as a team, but Liverpool are disjointed.”

Ian Wright delivered a more brutal verdict on Liverpool’s struggles, suggesting the players are simply lost under their manager’s tactics. “I don’t think they understand what the manager wants them to do,” Wright said on Wednesday.

“When you look at the way they are playing, they either win or they lose, it’s feast or famine with them. There is no cohesion with them, none of the players are thriving with them, you look at Ekitike, he started the season well.

“You would have thought to leave him in there. I know Isak has come in but the only player you can look at from Liverpool who is doing it is [Ekitike] and he has been left out the last couple of [Premier League] games.

“Full backs are not doing it at the moment for me. Midfield it’s not happening, [Ryan] Gravenberch is not having the same kind of season.

“With Salah, you’ve either got to create space for him or give him the ball where he can go and attack, but he is not getting either of those two things. Give him the ball where he has got time or get him to attack the space, none of that is happening. Trent [Alexander-Arnold] is a massive miss in that. The players don’t seem quite convinced.”

Liverpool are set to face Brentford on Saturday night in their next match. Slot’s side will be aiming to secure their first Premier League victory in four games.

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