Tommy Smith: Over-reliance on the top names

Liverpool legend Tommy Smith heaped praise on Fernando Torres who was in exceptional form last weekend. However he wasn’t really pleased with the performance.

“I was a little bit worried about the midfield, where Javier Mascherano did not have one of his best games and the action seemed to pass Lucas by.

The Brazilian is not as effective as Mascherano because he neither breaks up attacks like the Argentinian, nor do you ever see him bursting forward and providing a goal threat.”

Smith also points out that the squad is relying too much on Torres and Gerrard.

“It’s important every player pulls his weight, irrespective of whether you have players in the side of the calibre of Gerrard and Mascherano, or not.

There is too much reliance on the top names doing it all the time.”