'That’s why we never won' - Liverpool have 'too many stars' like England's 'Golden Generation', says Owen Hargreaves

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TNT Sports expert Owen Hargreaves feels the shortcomings of Arne Slot's side could be down to shoehorning too many stars into the squad, following a summer of big spending in the transfer market. Meanwhile, Joe Cole feels Dominik Szoboszlai is showing shades of Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard in the way he has navigated the opening of the 2025/26 season, despite his side's struggles.

Liverpool 'can't win Champions League playing all their stars' - Hargreaves

Video credit: TNT Sports

TNT Sports expert and former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves has compared the current Liverpool side to England's 'Golden Generation' of the early to mid-2000s.

The Reds suffered a sixth loss in their last seven league games when they collapsed to a 3-0 home defeat against Nottingham Forest, falling to 11th in the league table.

A summer of huge spending at Anfield saw an outlay of around £450 million, with their deadline day £125m move for Alexander Isak breaking a British record, which was set by Liverpool just two months earlier with the acquisition of Florian Wirtz.

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Hargreaves feels that with the influx of elite talent, the responsibility of head coach Arne Slot is to try and fit them all into the same team, likening the situation to England squads gone by.

"Liverpool remind me of our England team, where there were almost too many good players to fit in, and try to play them all, the balance of the team is just off," Hargreaves said.

"That’s why we never won, we had too many stars out there, and didn’t have the balance of the team right.

"Liverpool are trying to integrate Isak, [Hugo] Ekitike, Wirtz, plus Mo Salah. I don’t think you can win a Champions League playing all of them."

'I'm responsible' - Slot shoulders the blame as Liverpool dismantled 3-0 at Anfield

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Joleon Lescott suggested the solution would be to revert to a similar model which allowed Real Madrid to thrive with Cristiano Ronaldo in attack.

He said: "They need to know Mo Salah is the guy, and you just fit in, like Real Madrid. Everyone knew Ronaldo was the guy, but they all did their jobs because then we all win, he gets the plaudits. But it doesn’t look like that."

Szoboszlai is 'Gerrard-esque'

Dominik Szoboszlai earned huge praise from the TNT Sports panel, as he was likened to Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard by Joe Cole.

Szoboszlai has impressed in the opening months of the season, despite his side struggling to live up to their billing as Premier League champions.

'He's been Gerrard-esque' - Cole impressed by Szoboszlai displays

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Being required to play both in midfield and at full-back, the Hungary international has showcased consistent displays and been integral to their relatively steady UEFA Champions League form thus far - recording a goal and three assists in four European matches.

Hargreaves feels Szoboszlai has improved his all-round game and hailed the regularity of his strong performances, likening him to Federico Valverde of Real Madrid, who has carried out similar positional changes.

"He’s probably been their best player this season," Hargreaves said of Valverde, speaking on TNT Sports' The Breakdown.

"With all the firepower they have, this guy plays every game because he’s like Valverde, play him anywhere, and he’s still 8/10.

"The rest of the boys need to get their level right, but I think Slot will get it right. From what we’ve seen so far, they’re nowhere near.

"The one thing about Szoboszlai, he’s an old school No. 10, but now he’s learned the defensive side. He’s amazing."

Cole echoed that praise and said the 25-year-old is carrying out a similar role to that of Gerrard, who was at the heart of Liverpool's midfield for more than 17 years.

"I love him [Szoboszlai]," Cole said. "I think it’s even more impressive how he’s playing because the functionality of the team isn’t there.

"So he’s almost Steven Gerrard-esque, because the Liverpool team Stevie played in wasn’t as good as this team, but he’s been taking the game by the scruff of the neck."

Hargreaves feels it is players such as Szoboszlai and Valverde who guide teams to significant trophies like the Champions League, rather than the goal-getting forwards who attract the headlines.

"You don’t win the Champions League with the best guy, you win the Champions League if you have a guy like [Valverde]," Hargreaves said. "And who is Real Madrid's most valuable player? If you ask any of their fans and team-mates, Valverde, and that’s my point.

"These guys you can slot in and play everywhere, they’re as valuable as [Kylian] Mbappe and Vinicius Junior."

Liverpool sit eighth in the league phase standings ahead of Wednesday's clash against PSV at Anfield - live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Stream the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more on TNT Sports and discovery+

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