Jamie Carragher criticised Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker after he made a ‘crazy’ mistake in the Premier League defeat to Manchester City.
Liverpool looked set to inflict another damaging result on title-chasing Man City after Dominik Szoboszlai broke the deadlock with a brilliant free-kick.
A home win would have boosted Liverpool’s top-four hopes after wins from Manchester United and Chelsea but Man City staged a stunning comeback to win 2-1.
Bernardo Silva equalised in the 84th minute before Erling Haaland scored an injury-time penalty after Alisson was penalised for bringing down Matheus Nunes.
Manchester City thought they had added a third in the last minute but Rayan Cherki’s long-range goal was disallowed for a foul by Szoboszlai, who was then sent off following a VAR check.
The result means Man City are again just six points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, while Liverpool stay sixth, five points behind fourth-placed Manchester United.
Carragher fears the dramatic defeat could prove costly for Liverpool’s Champions League aspirations and criticised Alisson for giving away the late penalty.
‘It’s a bad one for Liverpool,’ Carragher said on Sky Sports. ‘When you look at the league for Liverpool, it looks like a long way to get into the top-five Champions League positions.
‘There’s a gap now. You can make that up, but Liverpool will have to do well in the two cup competitions to save the season.
‘It looks a long way back. When you look at Liverpool’s bench for the game against Sunderland in midweek, Szoboszlai won’t be playing now and they’ve got a problem at right-back.
‘A lot of Liverpool’s season is about mistakes you cannot believe from players of that calibre. Van Dijk at Bournemouth, Alisson today.
‘You can’t believe a goalkeeper of his calibre makes the decision to do that for the penalty.
‘I just cannot believe a goalkeeper of that quality makes that decision. Nunes can’t do anything from where he is but Alisson just makes a crazy decision, it’s madness.
‘Alisson doesn’t make too many – just look at how good he’s been for Liverpool – but it’s a real mistake.’
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk added: ‘We weren’t good enough in the first half, in the second half we were much better.
‘Between the equaliser and their winner, both teams were going for the winner, and the penalty decided the game.
‘You are never in complete control against City. You are never comfortable. My feeling is that after the equaliser we were both trying to score the winner.
‘We have only ourselves to blame. The penalty moment was the deciding moment and that is the reality.
‘We have to turn attention to Sunderland because that will be a big challenge.’
Liverpool boss Arne Slot, meanwhile, said: ‘Another great Liverpool-Man City game as we have seen over the years. It is a very disappointing outcome.
‘They were more comfortable on the ball than us and it didn’t lead to many big chances. Second half it was the opposite. And then for them when they were near our box it was a goal which is disappointing.
‘We had chances when Curtis Jones has the ball and Salah makes a deep run. Unfortunately, Guehi intercepted it and then we all saw what happened.
‘If the game goes on, you are always hoping you can keep the energy going and then sometimes they make mistakes. We had a good and impressive second half but unfortunately it was not a positive result.’