Concerns over 'struggling' Liverpool star who could be dropped as Tottenham evidence clear
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Liverpool Echo IconSportFootballLiverpool FCLiverpool have not been able to replicate their Premier League title-winning form this season, and Micah Richards has pointed out some alarm bells with one star in particularFormer Manchester City defender Micah Richards believes Arne Slot needs to consider taking Alexis Mac Allister out of the firing line, claiming the Argentinian midfielder is struggling at the moment.Liverpool's recent draw with struggling Spurs leaves Arne Slot's side well off the pace in the Premier League title race.While the battle for Champions League football is also heating up. All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook pageThe Villans occupy fourth place - the final Champions League spot - though fifth place could be enough due to the UEFA coefficients.The Reds have been unable to back up last season's impressive title-winning campaign, with Slot under pressure to deliver some silverware this season.However, Richards believes one of the main reasons for their struggles is the lack of balance when the Reds are without Dominik Szoboszlai in midfield.Speaking on The Rest Is Football, Richards said: "The balance in midfield when Szoboszlai doesn’t play in there is not the same.
Mac Allister at the moment is struggling off the ball."On the ball [he’s] neat and tidy, but he’s getting overrun in midfield, and they need to look at that. Liverpool are a better side when Szoboszlai is in midfield because of his energy."Speaking after the draw with Spurs, Slot said: "Of course it's damaging, but it's how many times this has been damaging for us.
We don't help ourselves at all."It's so many times this season that we've created much more xG or chances than the amount of goals we score. We haven't had as many clean sheets as you would want if you want to go higher up in the table."That's a bad combination for picking up the amount of points we want to pick up."Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL packageThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it.