After recent criticism about his Liverpool form, one national team manager has had his say on one of Arne Slot’s stars — claiming that the Reds’ recent dip is “not his fault”.
Carragher reveals Liverpool frustration
To say it’s been a month to forget for Liverpool would be an understatement.
The Reds entered the October international break off the back of three straight defeats for the first time under Slot, and several players have been hit with criticism as a result.
The Chelsea defeat will have particularly frustrated Slot, who saw Estavao Willian seal the points for Chelsea in last-gasp fashion.
By the time that the full-time whistle sounded at Stamford Bridge, Liverpool may have even been relieved to be entering the break, but that has only left the door ajar for further criticism from the likes of Jamie Carragher.
The Anfield legend revealed his current frustration, saying:
“The thing that has frustrated me in the last two games is that we have allowed a situation [to finish] end-to-end.
“Sometimes when you are playing a game, ‘Liverpool are playing Crystal Palace and Liverpool are better than Crystal Palace and are the favourites to win the game’. But you have been battered in the first-half, it’s 1-1, they’re on an unbelievable run, I am like ‘get out of there with a point’.
“Slightly different with Chelsea because when it went 1-1 I think a title-winning team go and win that game especially with the problems Chelsea have. But Liverpool were never in control of the game I felt after it went 1-1. You’d expect them to win the game, but they were never in control.”
It’s not just Carragher who has had his say, either. The international break has also handed one national team manager the chance to defend one of his star men amid Liverpool criticism.
Nagelsmann: Liverpool form not Florian Wirtz's fault amid real truth
Defending his star, Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann claimed that all of Florian Wirtz’s struggles have not been all his fault — suggesting that some of his Liverpool teammates can take the blame as well.
“Even if he hasn’t scored a goal, he’s the player who creates (among) the most chances in the Premier League.
“It’s not his fault if his team-mate doesn’t score them, and the statistic isn’t even a third of the truth.
“He simply has to get used to the league. I’ve seen him feel completely liberated. He knows what he’s capable of and how things work. Not everything has always been handed to him — he’ll work hard now, too.”
Revealing that Wirtz has been among the top creators in the Premier League this season, there’s certainly some truth in Nagelsmann’s defence.
The German has been below his best form, that can’t be denied. But he is not the problem at Liverpool. When he emerged from the bench against Chelsea, the Reds looked a different side going forward.
It’s simply about finding the right balance, whether that means dropping the likes of Alexis Mac Allister or handing Curtis Jones a starting place.