Jamie Carragher singles out underperforming Liverpool star after Man City draw
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s 80th-minute strike earned Liverpool a point against Manchester City in the Premier League, but Jamie Carragher wasn’t happy with one player’s performance.
Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool were fortunate to take a point against Manchester City after the home side had a goal ruled out for a foul on Alisson.
Liverpool picked up a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s 80th-minute strike cancelled out Erling Haaland’s low finish. They are the first team to prevent a City home win in 24 matches across 2023, but the result required some good fortune.
Ruben Dias had a goal ruled out in the second half from a corner after Manuel Akanji was adjudged to have fouled Alisson.
The City defender jumped with the Liverpool goalkeeper, who then fumbled, allowing Dias to tap into an empty net.
“For me, Liverpool and Alisson are extremely lucky,” Carragher said on Sky Sports. “There’s no way that if the referee gives that as a goal, VAR are giving that as a foul, no way in the world. A goalkeeper of his quality, it’s hardly anything touching him.
“It’s like a centre-back and a centre-forward jumping up and contesting a header, that’s all it is. It’s there for balance.
What it reminds me of a little bit is the Newcastle-Arsenal situation where you can argue 50/50 whether it was a foul on Gabriel, but the fact the referee didn’t give it, that was never going to be overturned. From a Liverpool point of view, I’m thinking I want my goalkeeper to be dealing with that.”
Alisson had a difficult game for Liverpool, with his scuffed kick leading to Haaland’s opening goal after another poor pass had presented Phil Foden with a great chance.
The Liverpool goalkeeper did make a great low save from Foden to prevent his side going in at 2-0 down at half-time, but he still earned criticism from Carragher.
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“I think any goalkeeper, who in my eyes is the best in the world or certainly in the top two or three, will be disappointed with his performance today,” he added.
“I don’t think he was at it at all, he struggled at times with the ball at his feet which we saw in the build-up to the first goal, but for a goalkeeper of his quality, he should be doing better.
You think of both goals today, they were almost touch [then] shot, they didn’t give the goalkeepers a lot of time to settle themselves.”
Carragher did praise Liverpool’s overall performance, however. He said: “They would’ve lost that game last season if it was the City of last season.
However, something is building there and listening to Trent then, it felt like the message at halftime from Jurgen Klopp, even when they went 1-0 down, was ‘go for it lads’, and at the start of the second half, they pressed a lot higher and were thinking they could get something from that match.
I don’t think either team did enough, I don’t think watching the game that either side really deserved to win.”
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Daniel Sturridge says Jurgen Klopp made a substitution which changed the game for Liverpool today
Daniel Sturridge has suggested that Jurgen Klopp made a game-saving substitution for Liverpool today.
The Reds were slowly drifting towards a limp 1-0 loss against Manchester City when Klopp turned to his bench early in the second half.
With just ten minutes on the clock in the second period, the manager decided that he’d had enough. Taking off both Diogo Jota and Curtis Jones, Klopp threw on Luis Diaz and Ryan Gravenberch.
And speaking to Sky Sports during the post-game coverage, Sturridge suggested that the introduction of Gravenberch in particular swung the game Liverpool’s way.
“The change with Gravenberch I thought was very influential in the game and helped them get a result,” said the former Reds striker.
“I like the way he drove with the ball, manipulating it.”
Gravenberch makes his point
Klopp had a big decision to make in midfield at the Etihad today. With Jones and Gravenberch both recovering from injury, it was clear that only one would get the nod.
In the end, it was the Englishman who was given the task of playing on the left of Liverpool’s midfield.
Unfortunately though, Jones really looked like a player who hasn’t featured much over the past few months. Sloppy in possession and a little too lethargic, the 22-year-old almost cost his team on a couple of occasions.
Things markedly improved with Gravenberch on the pitch. The 21-year-old wasn’t perfect by any means, but he kept the ball better than Jones and as Sturridge points out, drove forward well with the ball.
His determination to get Liverpool up the pitch even led to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s eventual equaliser.
With another Europa League game to come midweek, we expect that Jones might get the shirt again. But when next weekend’s Premier League clash with Fulham comes around, Gravenberch should be back in.
Moving forward, it’s quite clear that these two will be pitted against each other for a starting spot. Today. in our opinion, was a big swing towards the Dutchman. Sturridge clearly agreed.
It’s been a positive season so far for Gravenberch, who is looking like a steal at £34m.
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