Daniel Sturridge and Gary Neville locked horns in a terse exchange over Liverpool's season in the Sky Sports studio prior to the clash with Arsenal.
When discussing what has gone wrong for the Reds this term having won the Premier League last season, Sturridge pointed out a number of mitigating factors including players leaving the club in the summer and the tragic passing of Diogo Jota.
Liverpool are all but out of the title race and now find themselves changing priorities this season.
Neville believes the mentality of the group should be questioned and claimed the squad rested on their laurels having won the title.
He said: 'They got to the top of the mountain, they won the league and then (exhales), "we did it", and they basically relaxed that's what happened, are we questioning there mentality or are we saying other things. There's a bit of me thinking now, it must be a bit of that as well, they thought they'd done it.
Sturridge was having none of it, retorting: 'No. Luis Diaz was one of the best players they had last season.
Neville said: 'They sold him!'
'You've said it's a mystery, I'm giving you the solution to the mystery,' Sturridge replied.
'Luis Diaz was the best attacker from last season. Salah set all the record, Diaz was tenacious up front, pressing, scoring goals creating chances.
'Trent Alexander-Arnold was the most creative right back we've seen in the last 15 years in the Premier League.
'He doesn't play for the club anymore, we're talking about two key players that aren't at the football club. Qarrell Quansah, centre-back, when Konate and Virgil weren't playing well, Quansah was there. He doesn't play for the football club anymore.
Neville interjected: 'I'm not buying that.'
Sturridge went on: 'It's the truth, Gary. It's the truth whether you like it or not. Particular players, the players who they've signed, Ekitike has hit the ground running. Isak hasn't hit the ground running, Ekitike is not here tonight.
'He's been the best attacker for the club, scored the most goals, been the most consistent.
'All in all, when you look at the squad and look at last season to this season there's a big difference. They've lost key players. The players who have come in haven't performed to the level of the players they lost.'
Roy Keane was watching the exchange with interest in the studio and sided with Neville in claiming Arne Slot's men have been 'poor champions'.
He said: 'They've been poor champions, when you play for big clubs and win the title it is always about what you do the following season.
'When they won it four or five years ago, the following year they were way off it as well, there will be reasons for it, injuries and recruitment.
'To be so far off it, 14 points worse off than they were last year, that's a big drop off. You face problems as champions, injuries, setbacks or whatever and I just think they've not done the hard yards.'
Sturridge argued: 'You've just made the case, if you want to say that, you can't negate the fact they've lost players they've spent money on, of course Diogo Jota, God rest his soul, we're looking at a different team a different philosophy.'