Paul Merson has suggested teams are no longer afraid of facing Liverpool, pointing to recent victories for Nottingham Forest and Leeds United at the Reds' expense as evidence.
Jurgen Klopp's side looked to have turned a corner in their season after getting the better of Manchester City at Anfield earlier this month, but the first-team have since slumped to league defeats against lowly opposition in disappointing fashion.
There are currently no guarantees Liverpool will recover from their struggles during the second half of the season and confidence of a number of players looks to be in short supply after what has been a challenging few months.
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Feared by many teams in the division in recent years, Merson believes the Reds are no longer a force to be reckoned with that sides will worry about facing.
"To put in a performance like Liverpool did against Manchester City and then follow it up with defeats against Nottingham Forest and Leeds is inexcusable. Liverpool took one step forward and four steps back," the former Arsenal midfielder wrote in his Sky Sports column.
"Only the players can put in a performance like they did against City and then the ones against Forest and Leeds. Only the players can tell you what was different on those occasions. After the performance against City we thought, here we go. With Forest and Leeds up next, it was an opportunity for Liverpool to take off. But now, they are in major trouble. Jurgen Klopp must be pulling his hair out.
"Teams are not scared of Liverpool anymore. It's slowly mirroring what happened with Old Trafford. As a player I used to dread going to Manchester United. You used to play well there and still get beat, nowadays if you play well there you win. If you play well at Liverpool now there's a strong chance you will win.
"Liverpool are losing their fear factor, and this season is already worse than the season they defended the title. In 2020/21 they had just won the league for the first time in how many years. I could understand that season, I've been there, I've won the league and know what it's like the following season when everyone wants to beat you, not to mention the injuries to key players they sustained. But it's completely different now, Liverpool know that. They have that experience under their belts and there is no excuse for their performances this season."
Much has been made about Liverpool's lack of transfer spending compared to their title rivals, though Merson is of the view the summer sale of Sadio Mane has been the club's biggest downfall.
"I've said time and again how huge the loss of Sadio Mane has been for Liverpool, to which I am told it's not to blame for their struggles. My question is: if it's not Mane, what is it then? Questioned the 54-year-old.
"I remember when Liverpool were the best in the business closing down from the front, they would win the ball back high and be on goal within a pass. When was the last time they did that? Then there were the 20-odd goals Mane would score a season, often winners or the first in matches - big goals. Mane has gone now and Liverpool have to find a way to cope without him, something they have yet to be able to."
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