Steven Gerrard has identified a lack of aggression and physicality as a key reason for Liverpool's slow start to the season, warning that the team's "too nice" approach could jeopardize their chances of winning silverware. The former Liverpool captain expressed concern that manager Andoni Iraola needs to add "nastiness" to the squad.
Liverpool was held to a 2-2 draw at Anfield against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, marking the second consecutive weekend the team had to come from behind to secure a point. Gerrard told TNT Sports that the team lacks a "destroyer" and doesn't make enough tackles or win enough duels, describing them as a "nice team."
"That's the next development for this manager to change this team. They have to be more physical and aggressive," Gerrard stated. He suggested that a greater willingness to engage physically, even risking yellow cards, could have changed the outcome of recent matches. "Sometimes you win games a different way. They've got a load of nice technical players, a load of top talents, but they lack nastiness, and that's what the manager has got to get in this team."
Gerrard believes that without this added aggression, Liverpool will fall short when major trophies are on the line. "If not, when the big prizes come out at key times of the season, Liverpool won't be there. They lack nastiness and oomph."
Despite dominating possession with 69% against Forest, Liverpool managed only four shots on target. Issues from the previous season, including vulnerability to counter-attacks and losing physical battles, were evident. Forest took the lead twice, first through Dan Ndoye in the 24th minute and then from a Morgan Gibbs-White penalty in the second half after Alisson was judged to have fouled Neco Williams.
Manager Andoni Iraola was vocal in his frustration over the penalty decision and a significant delay in making substitutions, which he felt contributed to the situation. "With the penalty, the situation has already finished when the contact appears. And it's not an aggressive contact," Iraola told the BBC. He also criticized the time it took for the fourth official to prepare the substitution board, stating, "We had to wait about three minutes."
Gerrard acknowledged the frustration regarding the substitution delay but ultimately felt the team should have overcome such issues. "You can understand the frustration - in this day and age, with all the technology, it can't be taking three minutes to make a triple substitution," he told TNT Sports. "But I think it's a small problem in the overall problem because it's a goal that can be avoided."