Didi Hamann has concerns about Liverpool’s defence following their Premier League opener.
The Reds began their title defence at home to Bournemouth on Friday night.
They were pegged back during the second half, despite taking a two-goal lead at Anfield
As a result, it took late goals from Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah to secure a 4-2 victory.
Arne Slot handed league debuts to four of his summer signings against the Cherries.
Hugo Ekitike opened the scoring before later assisting Cody Gakpo for Liverpool’s second.
Meanwhile, Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez were all also included in the starting line-up.
Hamann, though, was unconvinced by new full-backs Frimpong and Kerkez.
Assessing the defensive display, he told Breakfast: “I think if you look at the 90 minutes, I think you never felt they were really in control of the game.
“This is something I think where they’ve been really good last season. It was end-to-end stuff.
“They struggled to create chances over the 90 minutes and also allowed quite a few.
“I think if you don’t control games without the ball, it makes it even harder to control it with the ball. I think part of it, or the reason was that defensively, they’ve been pretty fragile as they’ve been against Palace.
“Kerkez struggled (in) both games so far. Frimpong, for all his power going forward, his pace, he’s not a right-back.
“I think this is something they have to address because without Trent (Alexander-Arnold) in the team, I think the dynamics in the team will change.”
Alexander-Arnold left the Reds after 21 years at the club, joining Real Madrid back in June.
In 354 first-team appearances, he scored 23 goals and provided 92 assists from right-back.
What are Liverpool missing?
Hamann continued: “The other thing, I think in possession, they’ve been really good as well last season because they tire a team out and score late on when they faded.
“With Trent, you had one of the best ball-players in the Premier League, a right-back. He came inside sometimes.
“I think what happened with Trent in the team, because obviously a lot has been made, whether he’s been missed or not, I think if Trent was on the ball and had a three or four-yard space and a bit of time on the ball, I think what did happen, the teams dropped off because they knew if he needs to put a ball on a six-pence, he will do.
“I think what it did is it stretched teams, even by him being on the pitch and being in possession.
“I think it gave everybody else in the team a little bit more time in midfield and also up top because with his passing ability, he did stretch teams because people were scared of his passing.
“Obviously, this is something they won’t have this season because Frimpong is a completely different player.”
Slot explains his changes
Both Frimpong and Kerkez kept a clean sheet against the Cherries, despite Hamann’s comments.
Liverpool did not concede until after the pair were replaced in the 60th minute of the match.
Slot replaced them with Wataru Endo and Andy Robertson before Antoine Semenyo reduced the deficit just four minutes later.
Explaining his substitutions after the match, the Liverpool boss said: “Not only the pace of the league, Jeremie felt his hamstring a little bit so that’s a risk – especially if the other full-back Conor Bradley is already out with an injury.
“With Joe Gomez only training twice, I didn’t feel he could already play half [an hour] in this intensity, so I started off with Wata in that position, knowing that I could always bring Joe maybe later on for 10, 15, 20 minutes.
“Milos Kerkez plays every duel as if his life depends on it, which is a great quality, but if you play against such a good winger like Semenyo when you’re already on one yellow card, it’s a risk – especially knowing that we have Robertson as well, so that’s explained in that sense.”
The champions are next in action away to Newcastle on August 25.