Sam Allardyce believes the pressure might be getting to Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool’s season threatens to unravel.
The Reds have fallen behind Manchester City in the race for the Premier League title despite leading by seven points in January.
And their Champions League hopes hang in the balance as they head to the Allianz for the second leg of their last-16 clash with Bayern Munich, following a 0-0 draw at Anfield.
Amid the untimely dip, Klopp has hit out in his press conferences, offering some spiky responses and tenuous excuses.
Most recently, the German slammed former Manchester United defender Gary Neville for suggesting a Champions League exit would boost Liverpool’s chances of winning the Premier League title.
And according to former England manager Allardyce, Klopp looks rattled.
“Occasionally people can get under your skin but you can’t show the slightest sign of weakness because people will say you’re losing it or you’re out of control, and that can pass over to your players,” he told talkSPORT.
“I have to admit, he has looked a bit flustered recently in his interviews.
“If you pass that over to your players that can be a problem.”
Liverpool will be relying on their front three to fire them into the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday night.
After a goalless first leg, a score-draw would be enough for the Reds, but Allardyce worries about the current form of their attackers.
“Let’s hope they can get that extra bit of quality from their front line tonight because that could be the key for them to beat Bayern.
“They’re not firing on all cylinders at the moment and lots of people are talking about that. It’s one of the reasons they’ve slipped away from the top of the league.
“Defensively they’ve been brilliant this season, but the front line has not quite functioned.”