Former Spurs and Netherlands midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has questioned the level of Liverpool's players, saying that fans and pundits have become "blinded" by Jurgen Klopp's team.
Liverpool have established themselves as one of the best teams in England and Europe over the past few years, but have struggled in the opening weeks of this season. Just last week, they were widely slammed by pundits after falling to a shocking 4-1 defeat in Napoli, with some questioning their desire.
Speaking to the Dutch media, van der Vaart suggested that the team's success has seen fans overhype some of the players in Liverpool's squad, calling them "normal" players.
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Van der Vaart calls out "normal" Liverpool players
Rafael van der Vaart plied his trade in the Premier League with Spurs for two years, and has weighed in on one of Spurs' domestic rivals Liverpool.
Van der Vaart was quoted by VI.NL criticising some Liverpool players, calling three of them "very normal" players, and questioning how good the team truly is if their attacking talent does not perform:
I think we have become a bit blinded. We suddenly think Jordan Henderson is a crazy player. That's just a very normal player. James Milner is also a very normal player. Joe Gomez is also a very normal player.
Virgil van Dijk is top, the right-back and left-back are also good. But if things don't go well and those attackers don't have their day, then I think it's just a very mediocre team.
Though van der Vaart is not the only one to have concerns over the performances of Liverpool this season, his criticism seems harsh, particularly on Henderson, who has led Liverpool to every major trophy in the European game over the past few years.
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Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson in action in last season's Champions League (Photo: Shutterstock)
Nonetheless, he and Milner are both reaching the end of their careers, and the midfield injury crisis at the club has seem them relying more heavily on the two aging Englishmen.
Despite the issues at Liverpool, van der Vaart still thinks there is serious quality in their forward line.
They face another of van der Vaart's former clubs, Ajax, in the Champions League on Tuesday night, and the Dutchman fears for his alma mater's centre back duo if Mo Salah and Luis Diaz can turn it on:
The only thing I'm afraid of at Ajax is if Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah do have their day - then we have a problem. Then Ajax will never win. Certainly not at Anfield, I don't think Daley Blind and Devyne Rensch are good enough for that.
After the cancellations in the Premier League, the game against Ajax will be Liverpool's first since that Napoli defeat - it will be fascinating to see if they can turn things around.
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