Mark Lawrenson has delivered a stinging rebuke to the torrent of criticism that followed Liverpool’s goalless draw at Everton as a “load of rubbish”.
The Anfield legend was unimpressed that Jurgen Klopp got it in the neck for his substitutions as talk of the Merseyside giants “bottling” their title bid surfaced in the aftermath of a fourth draw in six matches.
Lawrenson called on critics and football followers to put Liverpool’s season in perspective.
“Liverpool dropped points in last weekend’s Merseyside derby but Mohamed Salah had two great chances and Fabinho wasted another good opportunity,” Lawrenson told the BBC Sport site.
“Eight times out of 10, they would score at least one of them and go on to win the game, but instead we get to hear a load of rubbish about how Klopp got things wrong and they are blowing the title.
“Well, they have got 70 points, are one point off the top and have only lost one game all season. That is where they are at – and if you had said at the start of the season that they would be in this position at the start of March, then everyone would have said ‘wow’.”
OPINION
Well played, Lawro, as he delivers a two-footed tackle on the doom-mongers and naysayers following the Merseyside derby inquest. He expects Liverpool to triumph 2-0 at home to Burnley on Sunday, and that would certainly be an excellent response to the failure to beat Everton, an assignment far more demanding than some would admit, given the histories and proximity of the two clubs. A blip would start entering crisis territory, however, if Liverpool do not take all three points at the weekend and Manchester City continue their winning ways in their home fixture against Watford, a team Klopp’s side thrashed 5-0 only eight days ago. The Anfield faithful would very happily settle for a boring 1-0 win this weekend and the confidence boost that three points would yield as the team look to continue what has been a mightily impressive league campaign so far, one in which they’ve pushed a brilliant Manchester City side all the way.