Jamie Carragher fumes despite Liverpool win and points finger at star who was ‘shocking’

Liverpool got their Premier League title defence off to a winning start by beating Bournemouth 4-2 but Jamie Carragher wasn’t happy with his former club’s lack of control

Jamie Carragher has delivered a scathing verdict on Liverpool’s start to the season – despite watching them beat Bournemouth 4-2. The Reds kicked off their defence of the Premier League title with a dramatic victory during which they surrendered a two-goal lead in the second half.

Antoine Semenyo’s brace got Bournemouth back on level terms before super sub Federico Chiesa volleyed home in the 88th minute and restored Liverpool’s lead. Mo Salah finished things off with a sublime solo goal, ensuring that the champions made the perfect start – at least in terms of the result.

Carragher was less than impressed with Liverpool’s display, claiming that Arne Slot’s side had no control just like in the Community Shield last Sunday. The Reds legend also singled out Ibrahima Konate, criticising his ‘really poor’ performance after Semenyo left him for dead to score his and the Cherries’ second goal.

The equaliser came after Slot had made a number of substitutions in a bid to shore up their defence, having conceded 11 goals in the six games prior. Post-match, Carragher fumed on Sky Sports: “It is unbelievable. Arne Slot’s made those changes to make sure things like this don’t happen. Fantastic from Semenyo – but Liverpool have had this problem.

“How many players were ahead of the ball – maybe eight players – when they were winning 2-1? That can’t happen. It’s absolutely shocking at this level.

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“For Semenyo to run that far and get his shot away is incredible – but where Konate is going? He had a really, really poor night tonight at centre-back.

“That is not right. It’s not. It’s not only game on top of the Community Shield – but I’ve watched enough football in my life. This idea that everyone bombs forward, it’s not for me. I don’t like it.

“At no time last week in the Community Shield did I ever feel Liverpool were in control of the game. You can draw 2-2 with Palace, that can happen.

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“But it’s how easy Crystal Palace could get at Liverpool, how easy it was tonight. In the first half, Bournemouth should have been at least 2-0 up at one stage.

“There is definitely a problem that Arne Slot has to solve. People say ‘they need a centre-back’. A centre-back doesn’t fix that. He just takes Konate’s place.

“It’s about the make-up of the team with two attacking full-backs and a number ten who more interested in getting on the ball than defending like Szoboszlai was last season. If Liverpool continue like that, I don’t think they will win the league.”

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