Liverpool

Liverpool

Premier League • England

Pundit risks further Jurgen Klopp wrath with pointed dig at bizarre Liverpool tactic

Liverpool line-up at West Ham before kick-off Rememberance Day

Jamie Carragher has taken aim at Liverpool for a tactical shortfall that he felt hugely contributed to their costly 3-2 defeat at West Ham on Sunday.

The Reds missed the chance to close the gap on leaders Chelsea after falling to a deserved loss at the London Stadium. Goals from Pablo Fornals and Kurt Zouma brutally exposed their frailties. The Irons also benefitted from an Alisson own goal when he failed to clear a corner.

Liverpool scored through Trent Alexander-Arnold, who netted a brilliant free-kick, and Divock Origi, who sent a half-volley into the bottom corner late on.

However, they could not muster an equaliser despite a late chance for Sadio Mane. But the truth of the matter is that West Ham deserved their win.

Carragher was quick to criticise Alisson after the game, highlighing the failures of the usual-reliable Brazil goalkeeper.

And after the game, Klopp was spitting feathers after seeing Liverpool’s 25-game unbeaten run come to an end.

Pointing the blame at the officials, Klopp was far from happy at two decisions he felt cost the Reds.

However, Klopp would probably be best advised to not listen to Carragher’s further criticism of Liverpool after the match. Indeed, the pundit felt Liverpool’s willingness to play such a high line, on instruction of Klopp, that he felt was the biggest contributor to their defeat.

It’s a tactic Liverpool have employed for a while, but he felt it was one that was brutally exposed by West Ham.

And, speaking to Sky Sports, he feels Klopp should have done something to address the issue.

That is something Liverpool have done for a while and me being in that position I can’t quite get my head around it. But then you look at the defensive record and it’s fantastic. But I just think when you’re in those positions I don’t know what you gain by holding the high line.”

Carragher also feels a lack of understanding between Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk didn’t help.

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“Yes, Matip has gone towards the ball but van Dijk holds a line. There’s only two things that can happen there. Either catch them offside or they run through at goal and for me that’s not a fair fight in some ways,” he added.

“I’m thinking I’d rather run back. What do we gain out of an offside?

“Nothing we just get the ball 60 yards from goal or them running through at our goalkeeper.

“Liverpool do it an awful lot and at least once a game the opposition will run through at the goalkeeper.”


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Van Dijk admits Liverpool were ‘too rash’

Meanwhile, Van Dijk said after the loss: “[It’s] a proper knock but we have to pick ourselves up. An intense game. First half there was nothing wrong, they defended well and we scored a deserved equaliser.

“Second half we were a bit too rash. We wanted the 2-1 a bit too much. They gambled on the counter attacks and it leaves an open game.

“Sometimes you have to be more composed and patient and keep the ball a little bit longer.

“The first goal counts. I saw the whole time, Alisson was being man marked. With the rules no-one knows what is allowed. It could have been a foul.”

READ MORE: Ratings from the London Stadium as Liverpool man suffers nightmare