Didi Hamann says Liverpool face a “tough fight” to finish in the Premier League’s top four this season and believes the club have spent far beyond their budget in the transfer market.
Liverpool have made an indifferent start under new manager Arne Slot, winning only two of their opening six league matches. Their struggles continued last weekend when they were beaten 3-0 at home by Manchester City.
They travel to fourth-placed Brentford on Saturday, although their confidence was lifted slightly by a 6-3 away victory over Linz in the Champions League in midweek.
Hamann, who won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005, does not expect his former club to challenge for the leading positions this season.
“For Liverpool, finishing in the top four this season would be a success, but I don’t see that happening,” he said. “I don’t see how they can make up the points gap with Arsenal.
“This season, it will be a tough fight for Liverpool to get into the top four. If there are no points deductions, Manchester City and Arsenal are almost guaranteed top four spots.
“Chelsea has no European commitments, and Brighton and Brentford have also started very well. I also expect Manchester United to find their form at some stage, depending on what happens with the manager.”
Liverpool finished fifth last season and qualified for the Champions League, a campaign which ultimately led to Arne Slot’s departure and Andoni Iraola’s appointment.
Hamann said Liverpool had little prospect of competing for the title this season and questioned the club’s recent recruitment strategy.
“Liverpool will not challenge for the title this season; they didn’t even make the top four last season, just barely qualifying for the Champions League,” he added.
“Liverpool’s only chance is if Iraola can get something out of the players signed last year, but so far he hasn’t done that.
“Of course, Liverpool have never been the biggest spenders, but I believe that the summer after winning the league title, they felt that if they invested then, they could dominate the league for the next four or five years.
“But the reality is that Liverpool is not just overspending, they are seriously overspending.”
Hamann also criticised Florian Wirtz’s performances since his move to Liverpool, saying the Germany international had looked more effective in the Champions League than in the Premier League.
“Wirtz has had a few good games since joining the club, most of them in the Champions League, because the pace there isn’t as fast as in the league, and it’s not as physical,” he said.
“With Gakpo and Isak out, getting him isn’t a realistic option. You can only hope that at some point everything will click.
“Honestly, I don’t think it will click. It’s been 14 or 15 months now; it’s dragged on too long. There won’t be a happy story between Liverpool and Wirtz. I think both sides will soon start looking for solutions.”
