Robbie Fowler believes the mental toll of last season's exertions is impacting Liverpool's form but says the ongoing uncertainty over Fenway Sports Group's ownership cannot be used as an excuse.
The Reds played every game possible last term as they became just the fourth team to win both domestic cups in the same season before losing in the Champions League final to Real Madrid less than a week after finishing their Premier League campaign as runners-up with 92 points.
In total Jurgen Klopp's side played 63 games and have seen their levels drop dramatically this term after missing out narrowly on being the first club to win the quadruple. The Reds currently sit ninth in the table and are 10 points behind Manchester United, who currently occupy the fourth and final Champions League place.
The Reds' defence of both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup came to an end at Manchester City and Brighton, respectively, and they face a daunting rematch with Real Madrid in the last-16 of the European Cup in three weeks' time.
Fowler says he cannot dispute the theories of mental burnout for Klopp's players but has backed the manager to rebuild the team back to the levels they have generally performed at in recent years.
"They have struggled this season and all the talk coming out from the training ground is that the exploits of last season have taken its toll," Fowler told the ECHO. "I can't sit here and argue against that. I think when you are a successful team you've got to keep fighting from any angle anyway.
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"Jurgen Klopp is an exceptional manager but you will have tough times. There's always something that will happen at Liverpool. I am not an insider giving out information but I would be amazed if there isn't something happening behind the scenes [for the summer].
"I also think that when Jurgen signed a new contract that would be one of the pre-requisites as part of his contract that he can bring in players at the end of the season.
"Think of what they could have achieved! I know it's all ifs and buts and should haves and could haves. They are having a tough time and the expectancy levels have risen through the roof but I'd be confident of Jurgen turning it around.
"As a player I wanted to play more games anyway and I looked at the fact that if you are successful then you are playing more games, so I think that is a good thing. You have to accept that and adapt to that; if you want to be a successful team you're going to be playing more games than the average team. I am all for them playing as much as they can.
"I think what people don't realise is the mental side of the sport. People talk to me now and say they can't play two or three games a week and towards the end of my career I just couldn't do it. I'd had so many injuries and operations that my body couldn't get used to it. But fitness-wise, I could and I probably wasn't the fittest lad if you like.
"I think what people don't get is the mental side of things. So players can play three times a week, absolutely not a problem because they are so finely-tuned as athletes now that they can. But the mental side of things in the sport is where it takes its toll and players may suffer from that.
"The days of social media are here now and answering everything they can with their PR teams, whereas years ago there was no social media or the expectations that they are getting now. So I think that is probably where they are struggling. So it's not the physical side of things, I think it might just be the mental tiredness of where they are at."
Talk has emerged in recent weeks of Klopp needing add significantly to his options and midfield in particular is an area Liverpool will need to address with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and James Milner all out of contract this summer, while links to Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham continue. Fowler believes the squad has suffered from a lack of additions at key points over the last few years.
The former striker added: "I think Jurgen is well within his rights to think they can progress and grow and when you are building strong teams - or when you're top of the league - it's about strengthening in the areas you think [you need it]. Or not even the areas, just strengthening all aspects of the side.
"That is one of the things that I think annoys me now more with football clubs is actually you're looking at players to come in and I don't even think you're looking at specific positions, I think you should be bringing players in just to keep everyone on their toes.
"If you're resting on your laurels, if you like, then someone can come in and take your place in the team and do that job to make it hard for you to get back into the team. And I think all clubs who have aspirations should be doing that and it is about signing elite players.
"Certainly when you're on top of your game, I don't mean this in a disrespectful manner, but if you're not signing players, I think you are going backwards. Other teams around you are signing players, so you're not even staying still, you're dropping down a peg or two because they are trying to up maybe two steps. So I think it's imperative and massively important that Liverpool bring players in."
A major issue that has continued to spread uncertainty is the ownership and FSG's plans to seek either external investment or the merits of a full sale, having instructed US banks Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs to search out potential investment.
Fowler, though, says such questions are not for the playing staff to concern themselves with and claims it cannot be used as an excuse for the performances this term.
"From a fan point of view, you can have your theories and question what might happen but I don't think the players [will be concerned]," Fowler added. "But I can't speak for them all now but your job, as a player, is to go and do what you need to do.
"Everything else is irrelevant. Your focus is getting the best results for the club and OK there's a bit of selfishness in wanting to do a good job for yourself.
"So when we start looking for not reasons but excuses then I think we will fall away a bit. Regardless of who comes in and whether or not the club want to sell, whether it's 20% or 40% or 60%l it doesn't concern the players!
"They need to show the sort of form we've seen and we know they can do that. We've been proven time and time again that there are some very good players in that team and OK, they're having a bit of a tough time now but there's always a light at the end of the tunnel with this Liverpool team."
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