Graeme Souness says Liverpool's new-look team looks 'a shadow' of the one which went close to winning the Premier League last season.
Brendan Rodgers' men slumped to a 1-0 defeat to Basel in Switzerland on Wednesday night and lie third in their Champions League group ahead of the forthcoming double-header with defending champions Real Madrid.
Liverpool failed to score for only the second time in their last 28 Champions League games, and former player and manager Souness believes they are struggling to cope without the goal power that Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge provided last season.
He told Sky Sports after the Basel game: "Last year they were effervescent, they were bubbly and it didn’t matter how a game was going because sooner or later they were going to dominate the ball and be on the attack. There was wave after wave of attacks and Suarez was continually scoring goals – and Sturridge as well.
"This year they look a shadow of that team. They look as if they have dropped not one or two notches down the ladder, but several.
"Tonight they were lightweight. You can talk all you want about tactics and formations, but if every one of the midfielders isn’t winning challenges and the other team keeps taking the ball off you then you’re always going to be on the back foot.
"They played against a Basel team, who are arguably - when you look at the two games in the group - worse than Ludogorets. Real Madrid did not have an easy trip there.
"Liverpool still have to go there and after the next two games against Real Madrid they could find themselves in a very difficult situation.
"They have to get their form back and they have to get it back quickly."
Mario Balotelli started the game as Liverpool’s lone striker, but failed to have a touch of the ball inside the Basel penalty area during the 90 minutes.
And Souness admitted he was struggling to find any kind words to say about the £16million signing who is being asked to help fill the goalscoring void left by Suarez.
He added: "I think he summed up what Liverpool were about tonight. How many times did you see him and he ended up limping after any sort of challenge on him?
"He was complaining to the referee, he gave away possession far too easily and he wasn’t alone in that and I thought he had another miserable night.
"Yes, he's got ability of a type and produced a great free-kick in the second half, but he doesn’t do enough for me.
"He should play in the opposition’s box and make himself available in the opposition’s box. He should move around and not come towards the ball all the time for the easy option."
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