It's been a calamitous campaign for Liverpool - but Tuesday night's 5-2 thrashing at the hands of Real Madrid felt like a new low for Jurgen Klopp's beleaguered side.
The Reds locked horns with the Spanish giants just nine months after they came up short against Carlo Ancelotti's side in last year's Champions League final. Liverpool were arguably the better team in Paris, but this time around, they were ripped apart by Real Madrid, who are well and truly in the ascendancy ahead of next month's return leg.
Liverpool had initially raced into a two-goal lead in midweek but were once again undone by some disastrous defending. The Reds rearguard, marshalled by Virgil van Dijk, had one of the finest records in Europe last term and boasted the joint-best defence in the Premier League last year.
This year, however, Van Dijk and co have been uncharacteristically porous. Domestically, they have already shipped more (28) than the 26 goals they conceded in the entirety of the 2021/22 campaign and have been heavily scrutinised.
In the aftermath of Tuesday night's heavy defeat, Jamie Carragher tore into Liverpool's faltering deference - and took aim at Van Dijk, who quipped that the Anfield icon would not have made it into the Reds' line-up just a couple of months ago.
Carragher's full, scathing rant, which took place during a discussion with CBS Sports presenter Kate Abdo, Thierry Henry and Micah Richards, is below...
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KA: "We asked you before the game had started - on the back of those couple of positive results that we've seen for Liverpool - did that now mean that they had turned the corner? You were cautious in your answer - does that [Tuesday night's result] now feel like a resounding answer?
JC: "It was nonsense, absolute nonsense that Liverpool were back after the last two games. And that's why I was cautious before the game. They played against an Everton team, one of the worst performances I've seen in a derby game from an Everton team who did nothing.
"I was at the Newcastle game as well. Newcastle had 10 men and created chances. If Newcastle had had 11 men all game, they'd have got back to 2-2, I'm convinced of that. Because Liverpool, right now and all season, as I've said before, have been an absolute shambles defensively. Now, this team had a great defensive record last season.
"But we know the midfield doesn't have the energy anymore, the attacking players - the front three - don't press like or certainly don't have the cohesion that was there before with [Roberto] Firmino and [Sadio] Mane, so they're new to it, [Darwin] Nunez and [Cody] Gakpo.
"So, this Liverpool defence now, who for years we've been told have some of the best players in the world, can't cope because for years they've had a front six in front of them who probably worked harder and smarter than any other team in world football, and now that's gone, it has completely fallen apart.
"I keep - I wouldn't say making excuses, it's the wrong word - but because as a Liverpool fan, we absolutely adore this manager and team, and they've done so much for the club in the last four of five years, it hurts to say anything negative because they give you so much.
"But Liverpool are eighth in the Premier League - they've just been battered 5-2 in the Champions League. I know it's Real Madrid, but these are the two teams who were in the final last year. It's not acceptable what we're watching this season. We keep looking for reasons and excuses, but no, it's nowhere near good enough defensively right now.
"What makes me laugh, and I'm not that horrible, Virgil van Dijk said I wouldn't get in that back four about two months ago. I think I'd take his place at the moment.
"Some of the players there... I mean, Joe Gomez tonight - listen we've all had bad nights as players - and maybe I shouldn't kick someone when they're down because I'm sure he'll feel terrible right now. But we keep talking about midfield players who Liverpool need and I think that's right, but I think Liverpool need defenders as well because when they get exposed they can't defend."
