Carra on why he joined protests over ‘unfair’ Liverpool ticket hike

Jamie Carragher: Wants Liverpool to spend some money

Jamie Carragher has explained why he joined thousands of other Liverpool fans in walking out of Anfield on Saturday to protest against increased ticket prices.

The Liverpool legend and now Sky Sports pundit was pictured with fellow supporters outside the ground, who all exited the ground in the 77th-minute of Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Sunderland.

Reds supporters, who have announced they are planning further protests, are livid after it emerged tickets for home matches next season are set to be as expensive as £77 – the minute in which fans exited the stands.

Chants could be heard during the first-half and again after the break, including: “Out the ground at 77” and “Enough is enough you greedy b******s.”

Images posted on social media showed Carragher outside the ground, after supporters had streamed out.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has urged the club to find a solution to the problem, while chief executive Ian Ayre cancelled a proposed fans Q&A on Monday evening around the thorny issue.

Carragher, writing his Daily Mail column has now explained his decision to join the demonstration and hit out at his former club over the ‘unfair’ increase, which he likened to a lottery winner failing to look after their family first.

Carragher said: “People have said to me since then ‘it’s OK for you on your big wages, that’s why the prices are so high’.

“I was paid well, yes, but I was there for 17 years and in comparison to some of the other players who were in that squad, it was fair.

“That’s what you want ticket prices to be: fair. I know the increase will not impact on me but I also know plenty about my city – £77 is too much to watch a game anywhere but that price is particularly over the top in Liverpool.”

Liverpool fans: Staged protest against Sunderland

Carragher said the decision to walk out didn’t come easily and “wasn’t a nice experience”.

He added: “The pictures you will have seen were visually striking – and they struck a chord with Fenway Sports Group, the club’s owners – but it wasn’t a happy atmosphere inside the stadium as fans argued with each other.

“For a short time, it took me back to 2010 when the reign of previous owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett was falling apart.

“That was an awful time and this situation cannot be allowed to escalate. There can be no denying, however, Liverpool have got this wrong.”