Liverpool legend Phil Thompson believes the club’s opening day Premier League defeat against Tottenham underlined the club’s lack of depth and quality, and that has evidently manifested itself over the last few weeks against Aston Villa, Chelsea and Sunderland.
Thompson told Skysports.com: “I'll start by saying I don't think Liverpool's season is hanging on the Lyon game but there's no doubt it is massive - and one they must win.”
“Not necessarily because of what happened at Sunderland, moreover what happened last time in the Champions League in Florence.”
“Three points from two games is not good enough for Liverpool at this stage.”
“And if they don't double that on Tuesday night, with a trip to Lyon to come next, they will be in real trouble.”
“Lyon were always going to be the biggest challenge in Group E and the last thing Liverpool needed was to lose Fernando Torres. They do at least have Steven Gerrard fit, but not having Torres leading the attack is a big blow.”
“It will be interesting to see what Rafa Benitez does. I would think he will play Dirk Kuyt down the middle with Albert Riera on the left and Yossi Benayoun on the right, with Steven just off Kuyt and Lucas and Javier Mascherano in the middle.”
“If he decides to go really offensive - and Liverpool do need to impose themselves early here - we might see Gerrard in alongside Mascherano with Benayoun just off that front man and Ryan Babel on the right.”
“Either way, what we all thought on the opening day of the season at Spurs when we looked at the Liverpool bench, is coming back to haunt them; the squad just doesn't have enough strength in depth.”
“I don't think Rafa has been backed properly in the transfer market and I do worry that will cost them.”
“I am not going to say the Premier League is beyond Liverpool because we have already seen Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal lose games we didn't expect them to, but it will be hard having lost four out of nine already.”
“But we are seeing some worrying signs - and if I am concerned, then Rafa should be even more concerned.”
“That's why he went with three at the back on Saturday, but that didn't work. OK, it does free up the full-backs to become more like wing-backs - and Glen Johnson and Emiliano Insua or Fabio Aurelio are certainly that - but I think that tells you the manager is concerned with the way they have been defending.”
Thompson told Skysports.com: “I'll start by saying I don't think Liverpool's season is hanging on the Lyon game but there's no doubt it is massive - and one they must win.”
“Not necessarily because of what happened at Sunderland, moreover what happened last time in the Champions League in Florence.”
“Three points from two games is not good enough for Liverpool at this stage.”
“And if they don't double that on Tuesday night, with a trip to Lyon to come next, they will be in real trouble.”
“Lyon were always going to be the biggest challenge in Group E and the last thing Liverpool needed was to lose Fernando Torres. They do at least have Steven Gerrard fit, but not having Torres leading the attack is a big blow.”
“It will be interesting to see what Rafa Benitez does. I would think he will play Dirk Kuyt down the middle with Albert Riera on the left and Yossi Benayoun on the right, with Steven just off Kuyt and Lucas and Javier Mascherano in the middle.”
“If he decides to go really offensive - and Liverpool do need to impose themselves early here - we might see Gerrard in alongside Mascherano with Benayoun just off that front man and Ryan Babel on the right.”
“Either way, what we all thought on the opening day of the season at Spurs when we looked at the Liverpool bench, is coming back to haunt them; the squad just doesn't have enough strength in depth.”
“I don't think Rafa has been backed properly in the transfer market and I do worry that will cost them.”
“I am not going to say the Premier League is beyond Liverpool because we have already seen Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal lose games we didn't expect them to, but it will be hard having lost four out of nine already.”
“But we are seeing some worrying signs - and if I am concerned, then Rafa should be even more concerned.”
“That's why he went with three at the back on Saturday, but that didn't work. OK, it does free up the full-backs to become more like wing-backs - and Glen Johnson and Emiliano Insua or Fabio Aurelio are certainly that - but I think that tells you the manager is concerned with the way they have been defending.”
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