Liverpool legend savages centre back pairing against Fulham | OneFootball

Jamie Carragher voices concern over Liverpool standards

Jamie Carragher rarely pulls his punches and his assessment of Liverpool’s 2-2 draw at Fulham was delivered with familiar clarity and frustration. A chaotic afternoon at Craven Cottage, shaped by defensive lapses and late drama, prompted the former Liverpool defender to question both individual performances and collective intensity.

Liverpool recovered twice in the contest but left London with only a point, a result that keeps Arne Slot’s side in fourth place and well adrift of Arsenal. For Carragher, the match exposed issues that have lingered too often this season.

Konate error sums up defensive frustration

Ibrahima Konate found himself at the centre of Carragher’s strongest criticism. The French defender stepped out aggressively in midfield for Fulham’s opener, allowing Harry Wilson space to run into and finish confidently past Alisson. It was a moment Carragher viewed as emblematic of a wider trend across the league.

On Sky Sports at half time, Jamie Carragher said: “I’m sick of seeing it all the time, lazy defending from centre-backs, not just Liverpool, right throughout the Premier League. Harry Wilson does not make that run if Konate’s across and [Virgil] van Dijk’s across.

“So whether that’s coming tactically from the manager, or they just want to sit in their armchairs in the middle of the pitch and let the midfield players do the running for them…”

Liverpool’s second half response was sharper. Florian Wirtz equalised after Conor Bradley surged forward, and Carragher acknowledged the improvement. “Liverpool’s response second half was better, it couldn’t be any worse really. The first half was so pedestrian, there was a little bit more intensity [in the second half], a lot of that comes from Conor Bradley.”

Wirtz goal and VAR debate

Wirtz’s goal, his second in three league games, also sparked debate. Carragher was unconvinced by the offside decision that allowed it to stand, pointing to the VAR lines in relation to the penalty spot.

“Wirtz gets a goal, I think that’s two in three games now,” Carragher continued. “He looks offside to me. It’s really tight, but when you’ve got the lines going through the penalty spot, it definitely looks like he’s further forward.

“I know sometimes the angles can fool you, where the camera angle is, but the fact we’ve got the penalty spot to look at, I just can’t believe that’s been given.”

Kerkez under scrutiny at left back

Before kick off, Carragher had already placed Milos Kerkez under the microscope. Asked about his rotation with Andy Robertson, the verdict was blunt.

Photo: IMAGO

“No, but I think it’s working for Liverpool in that I don’t think he should be playing every week,” Carragher said, adding that Robertson’s performances had been stronger when called upon.

Carragher’s most cutting lines followed, likening Kerkez’s approach to controlled chaos. “Sometimes when you watch Kerkez it’s like having Darwin Nunez at left-back… It’s just head down and run.”

The verdict was clear. Kerkez has time on his side, but improvement is required. As Carragher noted, even Robertson needed time to grow into the role. Liverpool now wait to see who responds quickest.