The Players Who Have Let Liverpool Down This Season — And Why Competition Matters

It’s easy to blame tactics. It’s easy to blame the manager. But football is ultimately decided by performances on the pitch.

And this season, several key players at Liverpool FC simply haven’t hit the level required.

That doesn’t mean they’re bad players.

It means standards haven’t been met.

Alexis Mac Allister — Not Influential Enough

Alexis Mac Allister was brilliant last season and there were high expectations again for him this season and at times he has shown his quality on the ball.

But too often this season he has drifted in and out of matches. The tempo in midfield hasn’t been driven by him consistently, and defensively he hasn’t imposed himself the way a top-four side requires.

Neat and tidy isn’t enough at this level.

Ryan Gravenberch — Promise Without Control

There is obvious talent in Ryan Gravenberch.

But frustration has defined too many of his performances.

Loose touches.

Moments of hesitation.

Games passing him by.

Liverpool need midfielders who control matches, not ones who disappear when intensity rises.

Ibrahima Konaté — Early-Season Struggles

Earlier in the campaign, Ibrahima Konaté had a difficult spell.

Positioning errors.

Communication lapses.

Moments of rash decision-making.

He has the physical attributes to dominate, but consistency is what separates good defenders from elite ones.

Cody Gakpo — Too Predictable

Cody Gakpo has worked hard, but the end product hasn’t matched the effort.

He often cuts inside onto his stronger foot, making him predictable. Defenders have worked him out, and too many attacks break down on his side.

Liverpool’s wide players need to terrify opponents. Right now, that fear factor isn’t there consistently.

Mohamed Salah — High Standards, Higher Expectations

When you’re Mohamed Salah, the bar is different.

He has still produced moments. He still scores.

But the explosive sharpness and relentless threat that defined his best seasons has dipped. There are games where he becomes isolated or quiet for long stretches.

For Liverpool to compete at the top, Salah can’t just contribute — he has to dominate.

The Bigger Issue: No Competition for Places

Perhaps the most concerning factor isn’t individual form — it’s the lack of genuine competition.

Too many players know they will start every week.

When competition drops, intensity drops.

When players feel secure regardless of performance, standards can slip.

The great Liverpool sides had relentless internal competition. Players fought for shirts. Nobody was guaranteed minutes.

This season, that edge feels missing.

Final Thought

This isn’t about scapegoating.

It’s about accountability.

Liverpool’s struggles aren’t solely tactical. They’re also about players not consistently delivering at the level required.

Talent is there.

But without competition, urgency, and accountability, talent alone isn’t enough.

Do you think individual underperformance or squad depth is the bigger issue this season? YNWA

Jamie (The Kopite View)