Liverpool’s 3-2 loss to Fulham on Sunday has sparked fresh concerns, with former Reds defender Jamie Carragher pointing out a long-standing issue in the squad: the absence of a naturally left-footed centre-back.
Despite going into the match as favourites, Arne Slot’s side were punished for a string of mistakes, particularly during a chaotic 14-minute period in the first half where Fulham netted all three of their goals. One of those came from Alex Iwobi after Liverpool gave the ball away just outside their box under pressure from Fulham’s pressing.
Carragher, speaking in his analysis of the goal, explained how the problem began with a pass from Virgil van Dijk to Andy Robertson:
“The reason why Fulham have pushed it to van Dijk is… and something Liverpool have always lacked… a left-footed centre-back.
“Now, the reason I think Virgil van Dijk probably goes to [left back] Andy Robertson is it’s the obvious pass, of course. It’s not a bad pass, but maybe a left-footed centre-back with the quality of Van Dijk could actually go there [and play a long-range pass from left to right and find Mo Salah in space].”
Carragher continued by pointing out how Fulham deliberately targeted Liverpool’s left side to force a mistake.
“If it’s on the right side, he’s got that passing range in his locker. And that’s why I think Fulham have pushed it this side, pushed Virgil van Dijk onto his left foot. Because they know he can’t play that pass, and he’s going to play the shorter pass.
“He goes to Andy Robertson, and he’s just got to go back to the goalkeeper. He tries a cross-field pass, he gets it wrong, and we know what happens. It was a nightmare scenario for him.”
After the game, head coach Arne Slot admitted he was disappointed by the mistakes but acknowledged the team’s fighting spirit.
“Yes, of course, but not only me – the players themselves, the teammates, the fans,” he said when asked if he was disappointed by the goals conceded. “But one of the reasons why we are in the position we are in is we don’t make a lot of mistakes, and if we do, players try to make up for them.”
“Now, this is also what we tried to do with the second goal, but unfortunately, instead of the ball being deflected [and] going behind, it went into the goal. This can happen, especially if you play a good team like Fulham. If you make mistakes, they have the quality to punish us.”
Slot also felt Liverpool could have found a way back into the game in the final stages.
“In the second half, we created so many chances that we could have made up for it. But we lacked time, especially in the end, because in the first 20 minutes of the second half, it didn’t feel to me as if we could score a goal. But in the last 20 to 25 minutes, I think it was clear for everyone that we could score the third. That’s why actual playing time wasn’t the most in the last 25 minutes.”
