Rooney gives clear instruction to new Liverpool players after Chelsea defeat

Liverpool have had a tough week, losing to Crystal Palace, Galatasaray and Chelsea, and Wayne Rooney made an observation over a possible problem

Wayne Rooney has voiced his worries about Liverpool following their defeat to Chelsea. The 2-1 loss marked the Reds' third of the week.

Estevao's late strike came after setbacks against Crystal Palace and Galatasaray in both the Premier League and Champions League. It also means that Arne Slot's side have surrendered their position at the summit of the Premier League table with Arsenal now taking that place going into the second international break.

The trio of defeats arrive after seven consecutive victories in all competitions at the beginning of the campaign, though most of those saw Liverpool depend on late strikes to secure victory. Speaking on the Wayne Rooney show, the former Manchester United and Everton striker discussed the issues he's spotted since the campaign began.

"I think there were worrying signs from - I know Liverpool are winning the games, but they weren't winning them in the way that they were last season," he said.

"There was signs there that something wasn't quite right.

"The last week has shown that. I think he clearly doesn't trust any of the right-backs that he's playing, the rotation. [Florian] Wirtz coming in maybe affected the balance of the midfield they had last season.

"I think it's a big challenge now because with the new players coming in having to get that mentality of winning every week, I think it's a big challenge for Liverpool. They've got to really look at it and try and change it."

Rooney has highlighted a period of adjustment that might be required by some of the club's summer arrivals. The Reds splashed out around £446 million on seven players who could feature regularly in the starting eleven.

"I think the amount of times you bring so many new players in and the amount of times you hear about the mentality of a player, Liverpool are obviously a massive club, and you expect to win every game," he said.

"I remember when I went from Everton to Manchester United, if we won two games in a row at Everton, you'd half-think 'Ok, it doesn't matter if we lose the next game.' You try and win it, of course, but it takes a bit of the pressure off.

"When you go to a big club and you're challenging for everything, you have to win every game. You have to have that mindset of winning every game.

"Some of the players that Liverpool have brought in, I think they need to get used to that. They need to get used to that feeling of winning a game and just moving on and trying to win the next game, rather than focusing on the game they've just won and feeling happy about it. It's almost like you're programmed to just get on with it.

"At the end of the season you can relax and enjoy it. I think that mentality is not used enough in terms of when you bring new players in, you have to find that really quick.

"There's a difference for [Alexander] Isak for instance and how he played for Newcastle. He attacked the space a lot and ran in behind a lot. A little bit more on transition with Newcastle. But you come to Liverpool, you're going to the champions and teams are sitting in a lot. It's a different skillset, you're more back to goal and that space isn't there in behind. You have to think a bit more to find the space.

"I think [Hugo] Ekitike has been brilliant at that and he's more of a number ten really. That's helped him because he's getting in these little pockets. With Isak, it's a different way of playing to what he was at Newcastle, it'll be interesting to see how he adapts to that."