Liverpool legend calls club a shambles and claims Mohamed Salah is 'suffering'

Liverpool legend Steve Nicol has criticized his former club, labeling them as 'desperate' due to some of Arne Slot's decisions during the Reds' loss to Chelsea. The London side clinched victory with a 95th-minute goal from Estevao, marking Liverpool's third consecutive defeat in all competitions.

Earlier on Saturday, Arsenal had triumphed over West Ham United, and Liverpool's subsequent loss meant they relinquished their top spot in the Premier League table to the Gunners. Initially, it seemed like Liverpool might salvage a draw against Chelsea, especially after Cody Gakpo equalized following Moises Caicedo's opening goal.

Slot fully utilized his five substitution allowance during the match against Chelsea, making offensive changes such as bringing on Florian Wirtz for Conor Bradley at half-time, and introducing Curtis Jones and Andy Robertson to replace the injured Ibrahima Konate and Milos Kerkez in the 55th minute.

In the 74th minute, Hugo Ekitike came on for Alexander Isak, but Slot's final substitution raised some eyebrows when he brought on Wataru Endo for Alexis Mac Allister in the 86th minute.

This decision ultimately proved costly, with Estevao scoring the winning goal ten minutes later, while Liverpool left forward Federico Chiesa unused on the bench.

As a result of the numerous substitutions throughout the match, Liverpool ended up with both Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch playing in defense in the second half.

Nicol delivered his assessment of such alterations, branding his former club's approach 'shambolic' and accusing them of resorting to 'desperation football', whilst also targeting Mohamed Salah for particular critique.

"The goal comes because Robertson had just done 100 yards," he said on ESPN. "Robertson had just run from his penalty box, and come back. He had his hands on his knees because he was gasping for air.

"That's why they get the goal. You could have stuck anybody in a Blue jersey on at the end of that game going forward. Liverpool were an absolute shambles by the end.

"Endo, in my opinion, wasn't brought on to take the point. Mac Allister was knackered, that's why Endo came on. This wasn't some sort of tactical move because from the minute Endo came on to the last whistle, Liverpool were charging forward like it was a cavalry challenge. They're just playing desperation football.

"They're desperate. How can you turn an XI into what Liverpool finished with? Two of your three midfielders are playing in the back line.

"You've taken your left back off. You're stuck in a left back on who's never going to be able to stick with Estevao or anybody else or Neto or anybody.

"I mean, it's just this by the end of the game, it's a shambles. You turn your midfield into your defence. You turn your defence into people going forward.

"Your front three, including Mo Salah, who right now couldn't hit a barn door if he was standing in front of it.

"Mo Salah is suffering more than anybody because of the fact that Liverpool cannot keep the ball. Mo Salah is not your normal football player. This is a player who stands on it, gives it away but he scores goals. And he's always been the same.

"Right now there's one piece of those three missing. And that's the goals. The biggest problem is Liverpool cannot play three passes among themselves together... there are so many things going wrong and it comes down to basics.

"Arne Slot has to look at the big picture here. Liverpool, yet again, were not half the side they were last year. Liverpool, again, were guilty of coughing the ball up.

"Liverpool, again, were guilty of getting run though in the middle of the park. They were guilty defensively of not defending properly.

"They are so many things that were wrong with Liverpool, that have been wrong with them since the season started - not just today's game.

"He's clinging onto a couple of chances that were half-chances. There's not one chance in that game today when you're saying Liverpool should score.

"The truth of the matter is Chelsea were the better side and Liverpool were miles off it."

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