As Liverpool navigate a crucial phase of the season following a disappointing result in Europe, a familiar voice from the red side of Manchester has weighed in on their challenges. Wayne Rooney, the legendary former Manchester United and England striker, has pinpointed what he believes is a missing ingredient in the current Anfield setup.

Speaking on his podcast, Rooney highlighted a noticeable shift in Liverpool's famed identity. He pointed to the departure of a specific, high-energy pressing game that once made them a nightmare for visiting teams. "When you go to Anfield, you used to have it with Stevie [Gerrard], with Dirk Kuyt, they used to press you aggressively," Rooney recalled, suggesting that dynamic forwards like the injured Diogo Jota, Luis Díaz, and even the industrious Darwin Núñez previously embodied that relentless spirit in a way that has recently faded.

Rooney's analysis didn't stop at the attack. He turned his attention to the defensive structure, focusing on a new vulnerability. He observed that for the first time in his Liverpool career, the colossal Virgil van Dijk appears to need more support from his fellow defenders, rather than solely providing it for them. This shift, Rooney suggested, is partly due to ongoing changes and a search for consistency in the full-back positions, which has disrupted the team's traditional defensive solidity.

These comments from a storied rival underscore a period of transition at Anfield. The intense, suffocating style that brought so much success under Jürgen Klopp is being recalibrated under Arne Slot, and as Rooney notes, rediscovering that core defensive resilience and attacking pressure will be key as the season reaches its climax.