Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rafael van der Vaart says that Liverpool players Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Joe Gomez are no better than ‘average’, and believes football fans have become ‘blinded’ to deficiencies in the Reds’ squad.
’s side have started the new season in poor form, winning only two of their opening seven fixtures in all competitions, and were humiliatingly beaten 4-1 by Napoli in the opening round of UEFA Champions League matches last week after what manager Jurgen Klopp called the worst performance his team had delivered during his tenure.
After Saturday’s Premier League match with Wolves at Anfield was postponed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the Reds face Dutch champions Ajax at home on Tuesday night as they urgently look to get their European campaign and season as whole back on track.
But Van der Vaart, who played 37 times for Ajax in the Champions League, says Liverpool are little more than a ‘mediocre team.’
‘I think we have become a bit blinded,’ the ex-Real Madrid playmaker said on Ziggo Sport. ‘We suddenly think Jordan Henderson is an amazing player. He’s just a very average player. James Milner is also a very average player. Joe Gomez is also a very average player.’
‘ is top level, the right-back and left-back are also good. But if things don’t go well and their attackers don’t have their day, then I think it’s just a very mediocre team.’
Despite lambasting the wider squad, Van der Vaart is not expecting Ajax to be able to win at Anfield if Liverpool forwards Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah play at anything like they are capable of reaching.
‘The only thing I’m afraid of at Ajax is if Díaz and Salah do have their day, then we have a problem. Then Ajax will never win. Certainly not at Anfield, I don’t think -centre-backs] Daley Blind and Devyne Rensch are good enough for that.’
Tuesday evening’s Champions League fixtures will be preceded by a minute’s silence for the Queen.
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