Liverpool secured their place in the Champions League last-16 with a commanding 6-0 victory over Qarabag, but the triumph has been overshadowed by Jamie Carragher's scathing criticism of the competition's new format.
Carragher's Outburst Over Liverpool's Potential Opponents
The former Reds defender, speaking on CBS Sports, did not hold back his frustration after learning that Liverpool could face either Atletico Madrid or Juventus in the knockout stages. Despite finishing third in their group, Arne Slot's side have been drawn against a selection of play-off winners, including Club Brugge and Galatasaray alongside the Spanish and Italian giants.
"I've just found out who Liverpool's potential opponents are," Carragher exclaimed. "Honest to god, this new format, I've had enough of it. We finished top last year and we got Paris Saint-Germain. We finished third this year, listen to this: Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge, Galatasaray or Juventus and we finished third."
Richards' Teasing Response and Carragher's City Jibe
Punditry colleague Micah Richards, the former Manchester City star, cheekily interjected: "But you're the mighty Liverpool?" This prompted Carragher to launch into a comparison with City's perceived favourable draws.
"What I'm saying is, if you finish third, you can't have them, you can't have Atletico Madrid or Juventus in there," he argued. "You know what, I bet you [Man City] have got like, I've never known a team so lucky with draws than Man City in my life. They get the FA Cup final every year because they play League 2 clubs."
When informed that City could potentially face Bodo/Glimt, Benfica, Inter Milan or Real Madrid, Carragher laughed and said: "I'll take that," leading Richards to label him a "Big baby!"
Slot's Contrasting View on Liverpool's Qualification
In stark contrast to Carragher's discontent, Liverpool manager Arne Slot expressed delight at avoiding the play-off round altogether. Following the emphatic win against Qarabag, Slot highlighted the significance of securing a top-eight finish in the league stage.
"It's what you want if you start the Champions League season – you want to finish top eight," Slot stated. "That helps, of course, because you skip a round and sometimes you can have a really hard team to play against in a round like that, which is shown by the teams you just mentioned."
The Dutch coach also reflected on Liverpool's recent European journey, noting: "So, we are happy that we are going straight away to the last 16, especially because it's only two years ago that we were playing Europa League and we went out in the quarter-finals against Atalanta. Two seasons in a row now being in the last 16, and last season we were very hungry for more and we will definitely be hungry for more this season as well."
The Bigger Picture: Champions League Format Under Scrutiny
Carragher's outburst throws a spotlight on the ongoing debate surrounding UEFA's revamped Champions League structure. The new format, designed to increase matches and revenue, has faced criticism for potentially creating unbalanced draws and disadvantaging teams based on their group stage performance.
Liverpool's situation exemplifies this controversy. While their third-place finish secured automatic qualification, it has landed them a potentially tougher path than some might expect, fueling arguments about the competition's fairness and sporting integrity.
As the Reds await their confirmed last-16 opponent, the clash of perspectives between a frustrated pundit and a satisfied manager encapsulates the complex emotions stirred by modern football's evolving formats.
