'It's kids stuff' - Jamie Carragher issues major…

'It's kids stuff' - Jamie Carragher issues major warning to Liverpool defenders after Napoli defeat

Jamie Carragher has labelled Liverpool's current high-line as 'suicide football' following their Champions League horror show at Napoli.

The Reds' high-line - proven to be so successful throughout Jurgen Klopp's time in charge - was brutally exposed in the 4-1 defeat in Italy, with the likes of Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia consistently able to beat the offside trap and get in behind. Those well-timed runs were the cause of three Napoli goals on the night - as well as a penalty that Osimhen eventually missed - which led to claims that the defenders lack the desire to track back.

But rather than criticise character, former Reds captain Carragher highlighted that holding a high-line when the midfield cannot press the ball is 'suicide football', adding that they must adapt quickly or face falling too far behind both domestically and in Europe.

“Right now, Liverpool play a high-risk game, but they’re not pressing the ball to stop the high-risk game and causing themselves a problem,” Carragher told CBS Sports. “We mentioned before the game that they’re not getting pressure on the ball, and you look how high Liverpool’s line is - that is not a problem, it's about being compact and together.

“But when someone gets time on the ball - as the Napoli full-back does - and you watch Joe Gomez. He’s got a yard on the Napoli striker but he stops and puts the brakes on. You can’t put the brakes on when someone’s got time to get their head up. We said before the game that it's too easy to get through Liverpool's midfield. That didn't happen before so you could play a high line and be really compact, but if that's not happening, you have to adapt.

“Two minutes into the second half, after we’ve seen one of the worst halves defensively under Jurgen Klopp. When that ball comes back, and you know a player is going to play it first time, you have to go back. Liverpool fans may criticise me because this is what Liverpool have done and they've had great success, but all I'm talking about is five yards.

“When that ball is there, and you know he's going to kick it, go back and if he doesn't kick it, you’ve only gone back two yards and you can get back to your line. If he does kick it, you’re off. Matip doesn't run, Van Dijk doesn't run and they get in again. It’s embarrassing. It’s kids stuff.

“This is the big problem with Liverpool. They've built their success on intensity on the ball, always compact, at times a risk, but there's energy on the ball. That energy is not there now, so that back-four has to adapt and it has to go back three or four yards. If they keep playing like that, they're going to have a big problem in the Premier League and in qualifying for the next round of the Champions League, because that is suicide football.”

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