Liverpool great John Barnes has suggested that Thiago Alcantara's playing style could be the reason for the club's scoring drought.

The Reds have failed to net in their last three Premier League matches - their longest such run since another three-game spell in March 2005.

Thiago has played a part in all three of those games and started two of them, including Sunday's 0-0 draw with league leaders Manchester United.

Barnes believes that the Spanish midfielder, still working his way back to fitness following a two-month layoff, is too slow in possession.

"Thiago, who was running the game and was the best player in the first half, I don't think that necessarily helped the front three," he told talkSPORT.

"With [Jordan] Henderson and Fabinho in midfield, they just get the ball forward and are much more direct for the three strong-running strikers to get on the ball and go on attack, Thiago slows the game down.

"When he slowed the game down in tight areas, that is not [Sadio] Mane's game, that is not [Mohamed] Salah's game. So we're getting used to a new system, but at the moment it's not working.

"But in my opinion, along with Manchester City, we're still favourites [for the title]."

Liverpool have found the net just once from their last 62 shots - 17 of those efforts against United, who retain a three-point lead on the fourth-placed Reds.