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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp “needs to rebuild in the way Sir Alex Ferguson has done” at Manchester United in the past, according to former Chelsea star Scott Minto.
The Reds were unable to put their 5-2 defeat to Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash behind them as they drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday.
Liverpool remain in seventh place in the Premier League after both Diogo Jota and Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta hit the woodwork in the first half before Mo Salah rattled the crossbar just after the interval.
A number of players have been underperforming for Liverpool this season and former Premier League left-back Minto picked out Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold for more criticism against Palace.
Minto said on talkSPORT: “First of all, Jurgen Klopp needs to look in the mirror and see if he can go again. I genuinely believe he can and he’s earnt the right to do that with what he’s done. It’s one bad season.
“He needs to rebuild in the way Sir Alex Ferguson has done [at Manchester United]. He needs to go to the board and say, ‘how much money have I got?’
“It’s all very well saying Liverpool need two midfielders – how much is Jude Bellingham going to cost? How much is a Declan Rice, or someone like that, going to cost?
“If you’re going to bring in another central defender or someone else, how much money do they have to play with? Because as much as we say this, we’re playing Football Manager here. How much money has he got? Does he have to sell players before he can buy?
“For Liverpool to be up there, I’d love to see a Jude Bellingham go there. I think the fit would be perfect. He’s exactly the type of player he needs.
“But where else does he need to do it? The defenders need to step up their performances. Even Virgil van Dijk, not long ago one of the best central defenders in world football, he’s a million miles from where he was.
“Trent, I’m sorry, it’s not lazy punditry to say that defensively he’s not very good. I’d be fascinated to know if he came off tonight with a niggle or not, or whether it was a tactical thing to put James Milner at right back when you’re chasing a game.”
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