Former Liverpool midfielder Gary McAllister believes Reds boss Arne Slot is not making excuses when pointing out the reasons for his team's disappointing season.
Liverpool saw hopes of defending the Premier League crown they won in convincing fashion last year banished by a dismal run of form during the autumn that left Slot under severe pressure.
The Reds subsequently improved but they are still scrabbling around to ensure Champions League qualification and currently stand in sixth place going into Sunday's Premier League clash at home to struggling Tottenham Hotspur.
Among a number of issues with which Slot has had to contend, Liverpool have struggled to adapt to an enforced squad overhaul last summer that hasn't been helped by new arrivals Alexander Isak, Jeremie Frimpong and Giovanni Leoni having all been sidelined for lengthy periods.
And McAllister is adamant there were always going to be issues introducing so many key players into a previously long-established team.
"I think even Arne Slot’s touched on it every time he’s tried to come up with a rational quote about how the season’s gone," said the ex-Scotland international.
"It always seems to sound as if he’s making an excuse, but he’s not. At times, Liverpool haven’t played well, and teams have made it very difficult by getting bodies behind the ball.
"The thing for me is trying to incorporate five big signings into your squad and into your first team in one season. It just shows you how difficult it can be. It literally cannot be done easily.
"There were obviously these little signs of promise. We know with Isak, when he scored the goal against Spurs, and getting that little link-up with Florian Wirtz. A little clever movement, a beautifully weighted pass. That’s why these guys were bought. But then he (Isak) got the injury from (Micky) Van de Ven."
Slot revealed on Friday that Isak, who has been out since before Christmas due to a broken leg suffered in the 2-1 win at Tottenham, has entered the final stages of his rehabilitation but is unlikely to feature for up to another month.
Wirtz, meanwhile, recently missed three games with a back problem but McAllister is convinced the Germany international is already showing his importance at Anfield.
"There’s no doubt in my mind about Wirtz," he said. "He’s obviously an outstanding player. Unfortunately, he picked up an injury too. Like Isak, he was just starting to put some decent bits together.
"Frimpong is back playing again and showing promise. And (Milos) Kerkez is now finding out what it’s like to play with the expectation level and the difference between Bournemouth and Liverpool."
Speaking to Grosvenor Casinos, Mac Allister added: "But the outstanding new player is obviously (Hugo) Ekitike. He’s just grasped it right from the Community Shield, where he scored in the curtain-raiser at Wembley. He’s been exceptional this season.
"But obviously results haven’t been there. They are many points behind Arsenal. That doesn’t read well, so everybody’s disappointed with that.
"They won the league last year, but it’s still a must to get in the Champions League because of history and tradition."
