Jamie Carragher has issued a stark warning to Liverpool's next manager, highlighting significant issues within the squad following back-to-back defeats. The Reds lost 1-0 to Galatasaray in the Champions League after a last-gasp loss to Crystal Palace in the Premier League, exposing defensive frailties and a lack of attacking cohesion.
Speaking on CBS, Carragher criticised the team's style of play, describing it as 'basketball' rather than football. He argued that Liverpool have not improved going forward despite marquee signings like Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, while their defence has deteriorated. 'They haven't gained anything going forward, but they've lost a lot defensively,' he said.
Carragher specifically called for Wirtz to be dropped, noting the 22-year-old has no goals or assists in the Premier League or Champions League. 'The balance of the team is not right,' Carragher added. 'Right now it looks like a mess.'
Manager Arne Slot acknowledged the team's problems, citing a lack of pre-season preparation for several players as a reason for inconsistent line-ups. 'You simply cannot play them every single game,' Slot said after the Galatasaray defeat. 'Sometimes I need to rotate because a player is not ready to play three times 90 minutes in seven or eight days.'
Despite the losses, Liverpool remain top of the Premier League and are still in contention in the Champions League. However, the defeats have revealed weaknesses that Slot must address to maintain their strong start to the season.
