Peter Crouch claims that Liverpool’s performance has been subpar since their defeat against Manchester United.

Liverpool’s recent struggles have left former player Peter Crouch believing that they have been “shell-shocked” since their unexpected defeat to Manchester United. This sentiment was echoed by former midfielder Gary McAllister, who highlighted Liverpool’s lack of clinical finishing as a major issue.

The Reds managed to secure a 1-0 victory in the second leg against Atalanta in the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals, but it wasn’t enough to overturn the 3-1 aggregate defeat. This loss came after a draw against United in the Premier League and a home defeat to Crystal Palace.

Crouch emphasized the need for Liverpool to be more direct and incisive in their play, urging them to get the ball forward quicker. McAllister acknowledged that while Liverpool have created chances, their lack of clinical finishing has cost them dearly. He believes that if they had been more efficient in front of goal, they could still be competing in all competitions.

The missed opportunities were evident in the second leg against Atalanta, where Liverpool failed to find the net after Mohamed Salah’s early penalty. This result means that Liverpool have now gone 360 minutes without scoring from open play in all competitions.

Salah’s miss in particular was a cause for concern, as he shot well wide with only the goalkeeper to beat. Crouch expressed surprise at the miss, stating that it should have been an easy finish for Salah. He believes that if Salah had been in his usual goal-scoring form, the outcome could have been different.

Liverpool’s current situation sees them trailing Premier League leaders Manchester City by two points. Their next challenge is an away fixture against Fulham, the first of three successive away trips in the league. McAllister stressed the importance of quickly regrouping and focusing on the upcoming game, urging the senior players to rally the squad and aim for three points.

With only six games remaining in the season, Liverpool cannot afford to dwell on their recent setbacks. They must quickly recover and concentrate fully on their next match against Fulham. The pressure is on for Liverpool to rediscover their winning form and make a final push for success.