‘It simply doesn’t add up’ – Liverpool legend claims ‘laughing stock’ Reds have become ‘the new Man Utd’

John Aldridge thinks Liverpool “have become the new Man United’ in recent months with the Reds finding themselves “in a horrible situation”.

The Reds have been in terrible form this season with Jurgen Klopp’s side currently seventh in the Premier League, nine points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham but with two games in hand.

Liverpool came very close to winning an unprecedented Quadruple last season which makes the drop off this campaign even more surprising.

The Merseysiders face Wolves on Wednesday at Anfield before hosting Man Utd at the weekend in two matches which could shape the rest of their season.

Man United have been much better form this term with Erik ten Hag uniting his squad as they battle for Premier League, Europa League and FA Cup success after winning the Carabao Cup on Sunday.

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And Liverpool legend Aldridge is worried that the Reds are turning into the “laughing stock” that Man Utd became over the previous few seasons.

Aldridge wrote in the Liverpool Echo: “United haven’t been anywhere near us for the last six years and have been nothing short of a laughing stock. The problem is we have become the new Man United: they have turned things around and we’re the ones who find ourselves in a horrible situation.

“The appointment of Erik ten Hag certainly seems to have galvanised United, who ended their six-year wait for a trophy on Sunday afternoon. At the start of the season, it felt like Ten Hag had a huge job on his hands but he has got a tune out of the players far sooner than many anticipated.

“It just goes to show how quickly things can change in football, for better or worse. Liverpool were on top of the world this time last year, and now look at us. How we have gone from challenging for four trophies to competing for nothing the following season is an absolute mystery.

“It’s just ridiculous a team as good as this Liverpool side finds itself in this position. It simply doesn’t add up. Have they all lost belief in themselves and their team-mates? We’re just a pale shadow of what we were this time last year and no one can put their finger on it. If they could, we would have been able to turn it around by now.

“Our meeting with United at the start of the season was one of the hardest games I’ve watched this season, we let ourselves down so badly in that game. They were coming into that fixture on the back of defeats to Brighton and Brentford and were there for the taking.

“United took a lot from that game – it gave them something to build on and confidence they could compete with the top sides this season. I just hope we are up for it on Sunday as we owe our fans for that rancid performance at Old Trafford.

“Will Ten Hag be looking at the way we’ve been defending and thinking he can win at Anfield? Of course he will. Marcus Rashford will probably be thinking the same, but we can’t let that happen. We are at Anfield, a ground United haven’t won at for seven years, and it’s time to show United we are not down and out just yet.”