Harry Redknapp Claims Liverpool Are 'Bang Average': Does He Have a Point?

Former Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp has this week claimed that the current Liverpool side are "bang average."

"I don't fancy Liverpool at all," said Redknapp at the Telegraph Total Football Live event (h/t Daily Mail)

"I think it's the worst Liverpool team I have seen in years. They look bang average. They are lucky to have any points."

Brendan Rodgers' side have seven points from their opening four games, having won their first two 1-0, drawn at Arsenal 0-0, then been hammered 3-0 by West Ham United—the first 3-0 league reverse at Anfield since 1965.

Of course, such a set of results can be looked at from either perspective; the glass half full may suggest that only three goals conceded is an improvement on last season's leaky defence; while the contrast, and perhaps most telling, is that Rodgers' side have scored just two goals in four games.

Of those two goals, one was Philippe Coutinho's long-range stunner at Stoke City and the other was Christian Benteke's offside goal against Bournemouth.

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"Bournemouth should have beaten them," said Redknapp. "They got a wonder goal at Stoke. OK, they played all right first half at Arsenal."

Redknapp does have a point. Liverpool have only really played well for 45 minutes of their opening 360 minutes of football. The rest has been pretty flat and far from entertaining.

"I think they will do well to finish in the top five. I am not with Liverpool at all this year," added Redknapp.

"I love Liverpool Football Club, and if you said to me which team would I have loved to manage in this country it would be Liverpool—but I can’t see it this year."

Whether Liverpool can finish in the top five is a completely different question and will rely most heavily upon whether Tottenham can improve on their form from last season.

With Mauricio Pochettino's side having failed to sign Saido Berahino and therefore now heavily reliant on their only forward in Harry Kane, Liverpool should finish above them and at least in fifth.

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It may not be the free-flowing Liverpool that Rodgers has often idealised and managed to produce two years ago when Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge wreaked havoc, though. This is a new Liverpool, a side shorn of its captain and icon, Steven Gerrard, and filled with Premier League experienced signings.

Redknapp's claims are in contrast to Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe, who said prior to the match at Anfield that Rodgers is "building a new Liverpool team so I think this will be possibly the best Liverpool team that he's put together," per Press Association (via ESPN).

In theory, it should be the best Liverpool team Rodgers has put together, one that is full of his signings, having now spent almost £300 million in three years, per LFCHistory.

For all the debate over the transfer committee at Anfield, this current side now appears to be made up of Rodgers' own signings, as explained by the Liverpool Echo's David Prentice recently, citing the Times' Liverpool correspondent Tony Barrett:

"

Tony Barrett told us that Nathaniel Clyne, Dejan Lovren, James Milner, Adam Lallana and Christian Benteke were Rodgers signings and Rodgers alone.

While the transfer committee landed Mamadou Sakho, Lazar Markovic, Alberto Moreno and Divock Origi.

"

Markovic has left the club on loan, while Moreno and Sakho are out of favour and Origi is yet to make his debut for the club.

Meanwhile, Clyne, Lovren, Milner and Benteke have started all four games, bar Lallana who was injured vs. West Ham and Arsenal. So every game they've been available.

Rodgers clearly has his favourites.

This Liverpool team in the opening four games has looked like a side attempting to be more solid and less expansive than what Rodgers has attempted in his previous three seasons.

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The team also appears to lack a true identity. Rodgers' first season saw his side as very much a possession-based team, the second season was famed for the speed of their counter-attacking play, while last season was highlighted by the 13-game unbeaten run using the 3-4-3 formation.

Thus far, it's difficult to see what identity Rodgers is aiming to implement. The possession game has certainly gone and the recruitment of Benteke has opened many questions.

Redknapp's words were refuted by former Liverpool midfielder John Barnes, who told talkSPORT: "Some of Harry’s points are valid, but it [sic] terms of this team being the worst Liverpool side ever—I wouldn’t say so."

Of course, Redknapp never said it was the worst Liverpool side ever, he said "worst Liverpool team I have seen in years"—a pretty big difference to "ever," which shows just how words can be twisted.

“We’re a very hard working side, we are a physical side, we can outrun teams and are strong. Defensively we haven’t conceded many goals, part [sic] from against West Ham," Barnes continued.

Barnes is right, Redknapp's words do have some validity. This Liverpool side does, at least for now, appear pretty average; it lacks flair, it lacks world-class talents and it lacks identity.

“I understand Harry’s perspective," said Barnes. "He loves attacking football, and while this Liverpool team isn’t going to be like that, it doesn’t mean we can’t get into the top four.

Two goals in four games certainly doesn't look like an exciting and attacking team, especially with Benteke looking increasingly isolated, as noted by This Is Anfield's Aaron Cutler: "His isolation is an indictment on those charged with playing in and around him, as well as the team’s collective tactics."

Perhaps the eventual return of Daniel Sturridge will see a new Liverpool—Rodgers hopefully pairing him alongside Benteke and changing to the 4-4-2 midfield diamond that was so productive in the second half of 2013/14.

While Redknapp does have a point—this isn't an exciting team at present—it certainly isn't the worst in recent times. That accolade certainly goes to Roy Hodgson's 2010 side filled with the likes of Paul Konchesky, Christian Poulsen and Milan Jovanovic.

But after three full seasons and having spent close to £300 million, supporters should perhaps be expecting a little more from Rodgers' side now.