Former Liverpool midfielder Jason McAteer says the Reds have been "found out" has pinpointed lack of alternative plan under Jurgen Klopp has been one of the reasons behind their recent slump.
The Merseyside club are without a league win and have managed only one win in 10 matches played in all competitions in 2017. Their only win came in the FA Cup third round replay against Plymouth and have been eliminated from both the EFL Cup and the FA Cup during in January.
Hull City registered a 2-0 win over Liverpool at KCOM Stadium and the Reds' last defeat has seen them slip out of the top four. McAteer claims his former club's "inability" to defend, not just from the set pieces, but from open play has cost them points.
"There has been a bit of an inquest into how Liverpool have been playing these past ten games and with only one win over Plymouth in the FA Cup it doesn't make for good reading," McAteer told 888Sport.com.
"I think Liverpool have been found out in the sense that teams know how to play against us and there is no plan B."
"But our biggest Achilles heel is an inability to defend, not just at set pieces but now in open play. The lack of consistency at the back has always been there going back to Sakho and him doing what he did and Matip having to step in earlier than expected."
"Then Lovren got injured and Klavan has had to play a lot more than a third choice centre-half should do. Milner at left back as well has not helped."
"Earlier in the season when Liverpool were winning 4-1 and 5-1 this all gets overlooked but when you stop scoring goals that one goal conceded starts hurting you."
McAteer has also questioned Liverpool's ability to qualify for the next season's Champions League. The former Republic of Ireland international has urged Klopp to find a quick solution in order to avoid missing out on a top four finish.
"Top four is definitely slipping away and it's up to the management to find a solution," he said.
"At the minute – because of the form in the first half of the season and the points we've bagged – we've actually had a bit of a cushion to go through a bad patch that we were always going to have, it was just a case of how long. It's lasting an eternity isn't it."
"Now we've used up our cushion and we don't have any more jokers to play. We have to find the solution very quick because there is not a lot of margin for error."
