Liverpool news: Jurgen Klopp’s Reds have lost their mojo - Alan Smith

That is according to former Arsenal striker-turned-pundit Alan Smith. 

Liverpool currently have the joint worst defensive record in the Premier League alongside West Ham and Crystal Palace, conceding 12 goals already. 

And Klopp has come under heavy criticism for failing to address his defensive issues from last season. 

The Reds currently find themselves in seventh place in the league, but they have won just one of their last seven games in all competitions. 

Klopp’s side are also seven points adrift of Manchester United, who they face at Anfield on Saturday (12:30pm). 

But with their problems in attack also being well-documented in recent weeks, Smith reckons Klopp’s side have stagnated with their intensity going forward. 

"Liverpool have lost a little bit of their edge - their mojo," Smith told Sky Sports’ The Debate.

"You look at the stats. We expect to see them playing with energy and covering most ground - those numbers are down now. 

“They seem to have come off it a little bit for whatever reason.

"Jurgen Klopp will want to get back to playing with aggression. 

“I covered the Newcastle game - Daniel Sturridge being in the team changes that, they can't press from the front when he's there."

Craig Bellamy also reckons the lightning pace of Sadio Mane, who has been ruled out for six weeks with a hamstring injury, will be a big loss to the Reds’ attacking firepower. 

"We shouldn't get confused with distance running - referees can go out there and run as much as the players," Bellamy said.

"It's all about running at speed. Is your intensity up? The amount of sprints you can make.

"That's what Liverpool have been good at. That intensity is what gives you a bigger impact in the game - being able to get in people's faces and then sprint on the counter-attack. They are key factors in football and will help you go on to win games. Overall distance means little.

"In those areas of high intensity, Mane is a big difference. When Liverpool don't hit those big numbers, it's when he's not playing."