Liverpool's miserable week came to a drab end with a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday night - and Jurgen Klopp's side have come in for plenty of criticism.
After shipping five goals at home to Real Madrid in an Anfield disaster in midweek, the Reds tightened up at Selhurst Park but were unable to break down Patrick Vieira's side. Trent Alexander-Arnold was amongst those criticised as he was hauled off in the second half whilst Michael Owen has slammed the midfield options at his former club.
Here's a run-down of all the latest news from Anfield as the reaction to a disappointing season continues and attentions focus on a summer rebuild under Klopp's watchful eye.
Owen's scathing assessment
Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen issued a scathing assessment on his old side's midfield options following more dropped points in the form of a 0-0 draw away at Crystal Palace.
“It’s also an area [the midfield] that will be changing soon," he told Premier League productions. "James Milner can’t go on forever. Jordan Henderson can’t go on forever. I think that area of the pitch is going to need a bit of surgery and I think it’s going to happen in the summer – everyone can see it. Jurgen Klopp can see it.
"People talk about the age of the midfield there, whether Milner or Henderson should be replaced. They are still their best players in there – people say they are too old, but they are still the best players.
"Fabinho has been average this season. Really average. Harvey Elliott, when he came on at half-time, he give the ball away more than he kept it. Naby Keita is just not good enough for a midfielder, in my opinion, for Liverpool. It’s all right fans saying, ‘we need to change Henderson, we need to change Milner and get a new youngster in'."
Klopp defends Trent
Trent Alexander-Arnold was substituted against Crystal Palace to manage his workload and is not suffering from a lack of confidence, according to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
Asked in his post-match press conference about the decision, Klopp said: “Trent plays all the games for us and before the game we thought whether it would be one game too much for him, but he started. The reason was purely because of that.”
Klopp then gave an impassioned defence of Alexander-Arnold when asked if he was suffering from a lack of confidence. “No. In the few games we won he was one of our much, much, much, much better players,” he said.
“Trent Alexander-Arnold, when he is not performing, everybody is talking about it. When he is performing nobody speaks about it apart from when he’s involved in goals. He set up super goals in the last two league games. He’s okay. It’s just the amount of games. We took him off and he will have a day longer to rest and he will be fine again.”
Fowler gives advice for rebuild
Michael Owen isn't the only former Liverpool striker to have his say on the need for a rebuild.
Writing exclusively in his Sunday Mirror column, Robbie Fowler outlined the need for major changes to get his former club back on track.
Fowler wrote: "I agree with Jurgen Klopp that he needs a rebuild this summer, with at least four signings - and very possibly more - required.
"But I can’t help thinking it needs to be better than the transfer business they’ve done in the last year if they are to get back to the incredible level Liverpool have enjoyed for most of the time under him."
