Gerrard: Liverpool Lack Squad Depth to Sustain Winning Form

Steven Gerrard has pinpointed Liverpool's thin squad options as the root cause of their inconsistency, following a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Brighton that came hot on the heels of their commanding 4-0 Champions League demolition of Galatasaray.

The Reds' season has been defined by frustrating peaks and troughs. After a blistering start—seven consecutive victories across all competitions following their Community Shield loss—their ability to maintain momentum has evaporated. In the four games before their European heroics against Galatasaray, they managed just a single win, with losses to bottom-dwellers Wolves and the struggling Tottenham thrown in for good measure.

The Brighton setback stung particularly because it exposed a pattern Gerrard believes has haunted Arne Slot's side throughout the campaign. Speaking to TNT Sports, the Liverpool legend explained how European exertions are taking their toll on weekend performances.

"We've seen it quite a few times this season now where they put a lot of effort, performed really well in the Champions League stage," Gerrard said. "And all the emotion, all the energy, the intensity that you have to put in to win or get a result in those games, it's having a big effect on them at the weekend."

The fundamental issue, according to Gerrard, stems from a shortage of quality alternatives. "They haven't got the options in the squad or on the bench to really make numerous changes to bring that energy and quality into the team to perform at the same level they do in midweek," he explained. "And they had to play a lot of the same players today, they made a couple of changes that were forced on them. The manager had to make changes rather than wanting to maintain energy and it backfired."

One enforced alteration saw Hugo Ekitike withdrawn after just eight minutes following a heavy challenge. The concern proved unfounded, however, with Slot confirming the striker had merely suffered a dead leg and could be available for immediate selection.

Liverpool's fixture congestion offers little respite. An FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City awaits next weekend, followed four days later by a Champions League quarter-final away at reigning holders Paris Saint-Germain. The ability to string results together suddenly looks rather more urgent than it did a few days ago.