John Barnes claims Thiago Alcantara has been 'Liverpool's best player this season' when he has played, and says the team needs time to settle with him as the main playmaker.
The Brazilian midfielder joined the club on a free transfer from Bayern Munich in the summer and has impressed when he has featured but has not yet had a consistent run of games due to injuries.
Liverpool have endured a difficult campaign this season, scoring just one goal in a winless run of five games in the Premier League, a far-cry from their free-flowing displays that saw them storm to the title last season.
Their renowned front three scored 45 goals between them in that campaign, but haven't hit hit those heights this season.
Jurgen Klopp's men have have been hit with injuries in defence this season which has seen midfielders Fabinho and Jordan Henderson moved back in order to cover.
And Reds legend Barnes thinks the team being so unsettled can explain thair attacking trio's drop in fortunes, and says settling with Thiago as their 'main playmaker' can help solve the issue.
'Every time Thiago Alcantara has played for Liverpool this season; he's been the best player on the pitch,' Barnes told BonusCodeBets, 'It just so happens that when he plays, the team hasn't performed too well recently, which makes people think that it's his fault.
'You must look at the way the team plays, and the fact that he's going to be their main playmaker and it's going to take time for the team to adapt to this.
'It was the exact same when Philippe Coutinho was at Liverpool, and the play always went through him every time too.
'By bringing in Thiago and making him our (Liverpool's) main playmaker, it will take time for the team to get used to the new game plan.
'It's not a thing that the front three are suddenly bad players. When you play a midfield three of Georginio Wijnaldum, Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, they play the ball much quicker as a team, and Liverpool have been playing this way for a few seasons now.
'Thiago has been our best player, and he's a wonderful player to watch. But, if you change the way we play, then it's going to take time for the team to adapt.'
The Reds find themselves on just 34 points this season, a staggering 21 fewer than their total at this stage last season and already six points off leaders Manchester United.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com