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Jamie Carragher has criticized Liverpool for their ‘shameful’ and ’embarrassing’ defensive collapse in Tuesday’s 5-2 defeat against Real Madrid.
The Reds were ripped apart by Real Madrid despite taking an early two-goal lead at Anfield, with goals from Darwin Núñez and Mohamed Salah, the latter courtesy of a howler from Thibaut Courtois, leading them to a midfielder after just 14 minutes of their first leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League.
However, after Vinicius Junior’s brace and another Alisson goalkeeping error leveled the game before half-time, the European champions went on a rampage in the second half through Eder Militao and a Karim Benzema brace to secure their place. place in the quarterfinals and leave Jurgen Klopp’s men. humiliated.
Carragher was astounded by the defensive weaknesses his former club displayed on the night, calling their second-half performance a ‘disgrace’.
Asked by presenter Kate Abdo how he was feeling after the loss, the former Liverpool centre-back told CBS Sports: “Not great.”
Jamie Carragher has destroyed Liverpool after their ‘chaotic’ defeat against Real Madrid
The Reds were beaten 5-2 by Madrid at Anfield despite initially having a two-goal lead.
‘Listen, first of all I have to say what a Real Madrid performance, to come to Anfield and do that. I have never seen a team come to Anfield on a European night, that I can remember, that I was a part of. [or] that I have seen and act like this and destroy Liverpool like that.
‘But that was chaotic for Liverpool. Embarrassing. We’ve made excuses for them all season, the reasons why they’re not doing as well as they have in previous seasons, but that second half was a disgrace.
‘To lose that second half three-nil, you’re attacking the Kop, it’s 2-2, knockout game… like I said, absolutely chaotic Liverpool.
“And what I’m talking about in terms of being chaotic, I’m talking defensively chaotic all season.”
Recalling later his refusal to be swayed by recent Premier League victories over Everton and Newcastle, Carragher explained why he remained cautious ahead of his meeting with Real Madrid, and couldn’t resist a hint at Virgil van Dijk at the process.
‘It was nonsense, utter nonsense that Liverpool were back [after] their last two games, and that’s why I was cautious before the game,” he continued.
“They played an Everton team, one of the worst performances I’ve ever seen in a derby from an Everton team that didn’t do anything. I was in the Newcastle game too, Newcastle with 10 men created chances.
“If Newcastle had had 11 men in the game they would have gone back to 2-2, I’m convinced of that, because Liverpool all season, as I said before, have been an absolute disaster defensively.
“Now this team had a great defensive record last season, but we know that the midfield no longer has the energy, the attacking players in the front three don’t press or certainly don’t have the cohesion that they had before with maybe a [Roberto] sign and a [Sadio] Well, so they are new to this. [Darwin] nunez and [Cody] Gakpo.
Carragher believes Jurgen Klopp’s team are paying the price for problems across the pitch
The ex-Liverpool defender also couldn’t resist targeting Virgil van Dijk after the Dutchman recently said he would not be making his four defenses.
“So this Liverpool defense now, who have been told for years that they have some of the best players in the world, can’t cope because for years they’ve had six forwards in front of them who have probably worked harder and smarter. than any other team in world football, and now that he’s gone, he’s completely collapsed.
Carragher joked that he would replace Van Dijk in the Reds’ current defense
“What I would say is that as Liverpool fans we absolutely adore this manager and the team and they have done a lot for the club in the last four or five years, it pains you to say anything negative because they have given you so much but Liverpool is eighth in the Premier League.
‘They have just been beaten 5-2 in the Champions League. I know it’s Real Madrid, but these are the two teams that were in the final last year. It is not acceptable to watch this season.
‘We keep looking for reasons and excuses, but no. He’s not good enough and defensively right now… what makes me laugh is that Virgil van Dijk said he wouldn’t get into that back four about two months ago. I think he would take his place right now!
“Some of the players there, Joe Gomez tonight… I mean, listen, we’ve all had bad nights, really bad nights as players and maybe he shouldn’t kick someone when they’re down because I’m sure he shouldn’t kick someone.” I’ll feel terrible right now, but [people] We keep talking about the midfielders that Liverpool need, and that’s the way it is, [but] I think Liverpool also need defenders because when they’re exposed they can’t defend.”