Jurgen Klopp given stark warning as Jamie Carragher reveals just why Liverpool are failing so badly
Jamie Carragher ripped into the Liverpool defence after watching them lose 3-0 to Brighton and feels a lack of quality is holding the side back.
The Reds had already endured a poor campaign by their high standards before arriving at the Amex Stadium. But they now find themselves down in ninth position in the table after a chastening experience on the south coast. Following a goalless first half, Solly March bagged a quickfire double to put daylight between the sides.
And Danny Welbeck’s quality finish heaped further misery on the travelling fans.
It means that the Anfield giants now face a tough battle to finish in the Champions League places.
Having strung together four top-flight wins to muscle in on the top four, back-to-back losses see Liverpool seven points adrift of Newcastle.
Carragher pulled no punches in his assessment of Jurgen Klopp’s rearguard. And the former Reds defender believes they would be in a worse position but for one man.
“Liverpool are as bad defensively as anyone in the Premier League right now,” the Sky Sports pundit tweeted. “Fortunately they have the best keeper which means they aren’t further down the table.”
Liverpool built their title-winning success of 2019-2020 on a watertight defence, conceding just 33 goals during that campaign.
However, they have already shipped 25 in 2022-2023 and it is costing them dearly.
Henderson admits Liverpool struggles
Liverpool have already crashed out of the EFL Cup while they face an FA Cup third-round replay with Wolves.
They cruised through the group stage of the Champions League, winning five of six matches.
A last-16 tie with Spanish giants Real Madrid awaits, with the first leg scheduled to take place on February 21.
The north-west outfit will be underdogs against Los Blancos with the way the season is currently going.
It will need a turnaround in fortunes and an improvement in defence if they are to compete with the Bernabeu giants.
And club captain Jordan Henderson admits the latest defeat has left the dressing room shell shocked.
“It’s not good. We’re pretty low on confidence,” he told Premier League Productions.
“The energy level is low. Everything. We can’t feel sorry for ourselves. We have to keep fighting and hopefully we can change it sooner rather than later.”
No hiding place for under-fire Reds
Following the Wolves cup clash, Klopp’s charges will face another underperforming side as Chelsea visit Anfield.
And it is not too long before the small matter of a Merseyside derby.
Frank Lampard’s struggling Everton will arrive on Monday, February 13.
A trip to Tyneside follows to take on Eddie Howe’s high-flying Newcastle United in a pivotal period of the season for the club.
