Jamie Carragher lays into two Liverpool stars after Brentford loss

Jamie Carragher laid into two Liverpool players following their loss to Brentford, blaming them for the second goal.

It was not a good start to 2023 for Jurgen Klopp's team, as they lost further ground on Premier League leaders Arsenal, and their rivals to even finish in the top four.

Klopp was forced into three half-time substitutions, in what ended up being a vain attempt to get back into the game, after a particularly poor opening 45 minutes.

Thomas Frank's side scored twice in the period and also had two other goals ruled out for pretty marginal offside calls, with the visitors looking like a shambles at the back.

Whilst Klopp was more than happy to blame the referee, with the Liverpool boss claiming that the home side had "stretched the rules" on set pieces, not everyone was so forgiving on the players.

Carragher was more critical of those on the pitch, especially when it came to the second goal of the game, scored just before the half time break.

Yoane Wissa had just had a goal disallowed in the 42nd minute but just moments later, from the resulting free kick, Brentford had the ball back and Wissa had his goal.

"I can’t fathom why players at this level – and we are talking about some of the best players in Europe over the last three years – would do this," the former defender said on Sky Sports.

"When you’re in a situation where the stadium’s up for it, the crowd and the energy are up, you’ve just nearly conceded a goal, why would Alisson then play a goal kick out to someone’s feet?

"And then you’ve got Harvey Elliot who actually dummies it. 13 seconds later Brentford go 2-0. It’s a fantastic goal from Brentford’s point of view but for Liverpool just slow the game down, go long.

"You don’t go short against a team that is so aggressive and on the front foot."

Klopp was criticised for his comments about the referees by fans, who didn't think there was anything wrong with Brentford's goals.

However he was also in trouble with Reds fans before the game, who had pointed out his hypocrisy of complaining about the money spent on transfers.

And Carragher added to the manager's woes by claiming the team needed to spend around £200 million to compete at the top of the table.

"It's a case now where Liverpool need to spend about £200 million," he added.

"I'm not saying that's the secret to success - and there's lots of teams who have shown it doesn't necessarily work - but Liverpool need to sign maybe three midfield players, I would say."

Instead of signing a midfielder, something Klopp admitted he needed last summer, the club have decided to bring in Cody Gakpo this month, though he wasn't available on Tuesday.

They look set to miss out on Enzo Fernandez, with the World Cup winner on the verge of moving to Chelsea, and they'll need to improve in order to be in a position to sign Jude Bellingham in the summer.