Carragher doubles down claiming Liverpool ‘far too easy to play through’ | OneFootball

Carragher warns Slot over Liverpool’s defensive chaos after third straight defeat

Liverpool’s recent struggles have drawn sharp criticism from club legend Jamie Carragher, who has once again questioned Arne Slot’s tactical setup following the Reds’ third consecutive defeat. A 2-1 loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge has deepened concerns over the team’s defensive organisation and left the reigning champions looking increasingly fragile.

Carragher questions Liverpool’s tactical balance

Carragher’s comments came after Liverpool conceded another late goal, this time to Estevão, as Chelsea capitalised on defensive disarray. The former defender, speaking on Sky Sports’ Super Sunday Extra Time, reiterated an earlier warning that Liverpool’s style under Slot resembles “a basketball team”.

“My criticism of Liverpool being almost like a basketball team has come back to haunt them,” he said. “Liverpool should be dominating games like this, especially given Chelsea’s injuries and changes.”

Carragher had voiced similar concerns after the opening-day victory over Bournemouth, pointing out how open the team appeared even in victory. His fears have since materialised, with Liverpool slipping from their early-season peak to a worrying run of defeats — against Crystal Palace, Galatasaray, and now Chelsea.

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Defensive fragility and tactical gaps

Carragher’s analysis of Estevão’s winner highlighted what he sees as structural flaws in Liverpool’s shape. “When the ball gets switched, the left winger for Liverpool is behind the full-back,” he explained. “Andy Robertson is experienced, but in that moment, it was too easy for Chelsea to play through them.”

Despite their attacking talent and ability to create chances, Slot’s side have struggled to control matches. “It’s far too easy to get at Liverpool,” Carragher warned. “Chelsea were there for the taking. With the team they had out, Liverpool should have won.”

Those remarks followed his CBS appearance after the Galatasaray defeat, where he expanded on his tactical critique: “Liverpool aren’t playing football at the moment — they’re playing basketball. It’s end-to-end, and top sides don’t play that way.”

Slot faces his first major Liverpool test

Slot, who led Liverpool to a Premier League title last season in his debut campaign, now faces his toughest challenge yet. The Dutchman must find a way to restore balance to a side that has looked increasingly vulnerable both in transition and out of possession.

Carragher sympathised with Slot’s situation but warned that the current issues cannot be ignored. “He’s obviously a fantastic manager,” he said. “But last season was a smooth ride. Now he has to earn his money. They’ve added some stardust going forward, but they’ve lost something defensively.”

Liverpool’s defensive decline has been statistically glaring. Carragher cited alarming figures, pointing out that Crystal Palace created “seven big chances — more than any team has conceded in the Premier League this season”.

Carragher praises Maresca’s Chelsea

Despite his criticism of Liverpool, Carragher praised Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea for their resilience and tactical discipline. “From Chelsea’s point of view, it’s a fantastic result — probably the biggest of Maresca’s tenure at Stamford Bridge,” he said. “You could see what it meant to the players and supporters. That kind of victory builds connection.”

Carragher lauded Maresca’s touchline passion, saying it reflected a team rediscovering unity and belief. “He’s a really good coach,” Carragher added. “Every time Chelsea face Liverpool, they seem to have a plan. This time, it worked perfectly.”

With the international break approaching, Slot now has time — and mounting pressure — to re-establish control over a team that once looked unstoppable. For Carragher, the warning could not be clearer: “This has been coming from day one. The manager needs to fix it — and fast.”