Premier League English

Souness in all-out rant at ‘easy touch’ Liverpool but praises impressive Everton

Jurgen Klopp’s once near-Invincibles have now lost their last four matches at Anfield, with the Toffees picking up their first most-deserved win at their fierce rivals’ sacred Anfield grounds since 1999.

Brazilian Richarlison drew first blood for a bold Carlo Ancelotti’s side to give them an early lead before Gylfi Sigurdsson struck a late penalty in a win 22 years late in arriving, but one definitely well worth waiting for, nonetheless.

The reigning champions’ title defence is now beginning to be reminiscent of the disaster-bound Titanic blockbuster. The Reds are three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea and have now also lost skipper Jordan Henderson to injury in the latest episode.

Souness, when speaking on Sky Sports’ coverage of the game, was highly critical of Liverpool, to put it mildly as the Reds have scored only once in their last five home league outings.

The Reds legend fumed:

“It was a shadow of a Liverpool team. Fair play to Everton. It was thoroughly deserved by Everton, they were set out to be hard to play against, Liverpool had 71% of the ball but it was tippy-tappy football for most of the time, whereas they did the business, Everton.

“Defended when they had to, their goalkeeper has made a couple of really good saves which is why goalkeepers are in goal.

“As a Liverpool supporter, I’m deeply disappointed with my team. They didn’t look like they had any energy, or real fight, or real aggression about them and the best team got the points today.

“The first 10 minutes, I expected a reaction at half-time, I think we got that, kicking into an empty Kop.

“But after 10 minutes, that faded as well. I think there’s no Liverpool player that can come off there and think they’ve had a good game tonight.

“When you think of the team Liverpool have been for three years – a team that nobody wanted to play against, a team that was always on the front foot, super aggressive, must’ve been horrible to play against sometimes.

“Now, everyone wants to play against them. They’re an easy touch, that hurts me to say that, they’re an easy touch.”

Liverpool are up next against bottom-dwelling Sheffield United next weekend with a free week to while resting some tired bodies and legs.

Let’s wait and see if the once-gargantuan Liverpool vessel can get itself off the rocks.