Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has given a brutal assessment of the Reds on the back of their 2-1 defeat by Crystal Palace at the weekend.
Arne Slot’s side lost for the first time this season as they saw their lead at the top of the Premier League table cut to two points after matches of surviving via late goals.
It had seemed that Federico Chiesa’s strike in the 87th minute had earned the visitors a point, but Eddie Nketiah fired in 10 minutes later to deliver a hammer blow to the champions in their sixth match of the campaign.
Carragher was speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football ahead of Everton’s game against West Ham, and analysed the winning goal that saw Nketiah score after a long throw.
But it was a game that saw Liverpool struggle throughout. Despite having way more possession, they faced more shots in the box than in all but two of Slot’s Premier League games and more non-penalty xG (expected goals), set piece xG and faced more big chances than any other game under the Dutchman.
But they had it coming, according to Carragher. Because of their performances, and because of the struggles they have had against the Eagles in particular.
Jamie Carragher has insisted Liverpool ‘had it coming’ when they lost to Crystal Palace
Carragher was critical of Arne Slot’s first half approach before he corrected it at half time
‘This performance and result has been coming from early in the season, conceding chances and goals,’ Carragher said. ‘They have improved a bit of late, in the Everton game and in Europe. I thought it was going the right way but this was a crash down to earth.
‘Very few managers have got the better of Slot but Liverpool are in Palace’s unbeaten run three times. They caused Liverpool real problems.
‘You talk about the two goals they scored, set pieces. That’s a big part of the game but it was more in the game, the defining moments.
‘We know the space is in the wide areas in this system. If you lose the ball – as [Ibrahima] Konate did numerous times – you are never going to get back.’
A snippet of Slot’s tactics was then shown to viewers, which saw Florian Wirtz play instead of Cody Gakpo. But Wirtz didn’t play wide left – in fact no one in midfield did.
It meant Milos Kerkez was the only player on the left side for the Reds, which caused an issue in the first half before Slot adapted in the second period.
But Carragher also picked apart the winning goal – and pointed to the players rather than Slot for the blame.
‘This wasn’t just a counter attacking game,’ Carragher continued. ‘Let’s not forget the Community Shied.
He also explained where the Reds went wrong late on and who was to blame for the defeat
‘Liverpool had a huge issue with Kerkez getting dragged inside. What Slot did here, he didn’t have a wide left player and played a box midfield. Kerkez’s job was to look after Munoz. Liverpool always want the extra man at the back and they went with almost a back six.
‘They again caused them huge problems. Liverpool always want the extra man at the back and can’t get the pressure on up the pitch. They improved second half.
‘But people think they lost the game because of a long throw. I don’t think they did. They lost it because off a throw on the half way line.
‘It’s a hopeful ball and [Daniel] Munoz gets his head on it. Munoz starts walking, he’s happy with the draw. But look at Liverpool players – [Mohamed] Salah, Chiesa, [Curtis] Jones, [Virgil] Van Dijk. They aren’t looking at the ball.
‘It’s something you are told as a boy: never take your eye off the ball. He takes the quick throw. Kerkez is bending down and that can’t be possible at this level of football.
‘You have five players ahead of the ball in the last minute. Again not acceptable at this level of football. Two passes.’
