Topics: Football, Transfers, Liverpool, Jamie Carragher, Jurgen Klopp, Premier League
Former Liverpool star Jamie Carragher claimed Jurgen Klopp made a major mistake in last summer’s transfer window.
The Reds have endured an awful season. Last season’s Champions League finalists are currently languishing in tenth, some 11 points from the top four, and 21 points adrift of Premier League table toppers Arsenal.
Liverpool’s woeful performances have in part been down to Klopp’s midfield, with first-teamers Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara having all been hit by injury woe and poor form this term.
Meanwhile, fringe players Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita are both likely to leave at the end of the season upon the expiry of their contracts.
Advert
While Klopp has been tipped to spend big in the summer on the likes of Jude Bellingham and Moises Caicedo, the Liverpool boss was criticised for not being more proactive before the current campaign.
In a Telegraph column, Carragher claimed Klopp, rather than Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group, made a mistake in not spending big on a new midfielder.
The former centre-back wrote: "Liverpool wanted to sign one in Aurélien Tchouaméni from Monaco, knowing his market value was £75 million.
“When Tchouaméni chose Real Madrid, the money was there if Klopp wanted an alternative, but he opted to wait until 2023, hoping he will lure Jude Bellingham.
“That was Klopp’s call, not owner John W. Henry’s."
Carragher stressed, however, that he remained a supporter of Klopp, despite Liverpool’s dire form this term.
The 45-year-said: "We often talk about managers having ‘credit in the bank’. Jürgen Klopp is the reason Liverpool are now valued in the billions.
"The club’s transformation under Fenway Sports Group accelerated because of him.
"That is why in the aftermath of another shambolic defeat last weekend, my support is unwavering. I would change everyone else at Liverpool before Klopp, but we cannot ignore that the Anfield renaissance was assisted by the collective expertise of many departments, the coaching and recruitment staff especially working in harmony."
Carragher added: "Players can come and go. So too can sporting directors and board members. Liverpool still have their brilliant manager. Now is the time to revisit the blueprint he so brilliantly began to enforce in 2015."
