'Not right' - Liverpool legend singles out Newcastle United star with brutal accusation on recent form

Liverpool legend Phil Thompson has accused Newcastle United star Kieran Trippier of ‘falling off a cliff’ this season.

The signing of the England international proved to be a landmark moment for the Magpies as he became the first new addition in the aftermath of a PIF-led takeover at St James Park. After agreeing to join Eddie Howe’s squad in a £13m deal from La Liga champions Atletico Madrid, Trippier made an instant impact with goals in wins against Aston Villa and Everton that helped put United on their way to a successful bid to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

Trippier’s first full season on Tyneside brought more progress as his class and consistency played a lead role in helping Newcastle reach their first major cup final since 1999 as they fell to a 2-0 defeat against Manchester United in the Carabao Cup Final and secure a place in the Champions League for the first time in two decades.

The current season has been something of a struggle for Trippier as several high-profile errors against the likes of Everton and Chelsea have led to some accusing the former Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley star of falling below his usual high standards. The Magpies star assessed his drop in form during a recent interview after he was named as North East Football Writers Player of the Year.

He said: “It was a strange one, really. I was just making a mistake and then making another mistake. I think the break came at the right time and that gave me time to reflect and analyse why I was making those mistakes. As I do every game win, lose or draw, I always watch the games back and it's just going back to basics, really. I don't know. I haven't got any excuses, really. It's just you make a mistake and you want to try even better and then because you're trying s hard, you make another mistake, and it's not me.”

Trippier did receive support from Magpies manager Howe during what had been the first challenging period of what has been a progressive spell with Newcastle - but former Liverpool player and coach Thompson believes the Magpies star’s mind was ‘not right’ as he suffered a dip in form during the midway point of the campaign.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Thompson said: “I think Trippier is one where you look at the failing of all the players because to me I’ve always thought what a player.  All of a sudden, he’s like fallen off a cliff and his performances and his mistakes have started to cost. I always think when you make mistakes, yes you can make one, but when it’s continuous, your mind is not right, your energy levels have dropped.”