Liverpool’s misfiring attack being bailed out by solid defence, claims Reds legend Dietmar Hamann, amid claims Mohamed Salah looks ‘jaded’

Dietmar Hamann believes Liverpool have been 'lacking fluidity' going forward in recent weeks with the club relying on their robust defence for success.

The Reds secured a spot in the Champions League quarter-finals with a 2-1 aggregate victory over Inter Milan, with the Italian side ultimately falling short despite claiming Tuesday's second leg at Anfield with a 1-0 win.

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While Jurgen Klopp's side will be delighted to progress to the last-eight, former midfielder Hamann believes Liverpool have the defence to thank for their progress, likening their current form to that which saw them lift the Champions League trophy back in 2019.

Speaking on talkSPORT Breakfast, the 2005 Istanbul hero said: “If you look at the first game, I don’t think that Liverpool were two goals better than Inter at the San Siro.

“I think that Liverpool will be very happy to be in the hat because over the two legs you can probably say that Inter weren’t any worse than Liverpool.

“They’ve got no fluidity going forward at the moment and struggle to score goals and I think that their defence keeps them in these competitions.

“Last week at the San Siro they kept a clean sheet and had numerous chances without taking them, but at some stage they’ll play better going forward again.

“As long as the defence is functioning with [Virgil] Van Dijk looking back to his best, they look rock solid and the defence is what stands out.

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“When they won the Champions League a few years back, as good as they are going forward, I think they won the Champions League because their defence was the best in the competition.”

Hamann isn't the only Liverpool supporter who has noticed the club's recent lack of attacking potency

Red fan Anthony phoned into talkSPORT on Tuesday night and expressed his belief that Mohamed Salah looks 'jaded' midway through a busy season and deserves to be given some rest.

He told The Sports Bar: “I think that Mo Salah should have been rested against Inter and possibly even against West Ham.

“He doesn’t look himself, I know he scored two penalties in the 6-0 against Leeds, but he didn’t do anything really until the last 20 minutes of the game.

“I think that it [the first leg lead] was enough to rest him. Virgil [Van Dijk] hit the bar, Salah had two that hit the post as well but we didn’t start the game well."

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He continued: "Talking about his overall contribution when the ball is being played up to him, he’s not really fighting. Defenders are winning the ball and brushing him off.

“I love Mo Salah so I’m saying this with love in my heart for him.

“I think that in AFCON he went all the way and broke his heart not to win it. Sadio [Mane] has come back and he played the same amount but obviously won it so he’s come back on a high.

“Mo’s come back on a bit of a low. He wasn’t in the team of the year, he didn’t get the Ballon d’Or – all of that, it gets to you."