What Carragher Told Arne Slot After Liverpool 4-2 Bournemouth Seems Interesting Now

Many picked Liverpool as their favourites to win the Premier League this season, but a mixed start to the 2025/26 campaign has prompted concerns over Arne Slot’s team. The club actually went on a great run, winning their opening seven fixtures before losing three games in a row across all competitions.

Having won a number of matches in a relatively unconvincing manner, often relying on late winners, the Reds have been somewhat found out in recent weeks, losing to Crystal Palace and Chelsea in the league, conceding in injury time in both games, while also suffering a 1-0 away loss to Galatasaray in the Champions League.

Pundit and former player Jamie Carragher noted something was perhaps amiss after the opening game of the season, despite the Reds picking up all three points on the day. Liverpool went 2-0 up against Bournemouth before losing concentration, allowing the away team to score twice in quick succession to level the scores.

In the end, Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah scored in the dying embers of the match to seal a 4-2 victory, but Carragher was far from convinced.

Carragher Expressed Concerns After Liverpool 4-2 Bournemouth

Following a recent lack of form, Carragher’s comments to Slot after the game look all the more pertinent now. The retired Anfield icon expressed his concern that Liverpool lacked control on the day, saying on Sky Sports:

Slot replied, explaining that they didn’t have Ryan Gravenberch (who was suspended for this game), and Alexis Mac Allister wasn’t fully fit. He said: “Not that we bring more bodies in front of the ball, but we have players who are looking for the final pass a little bit more.

“Ryan Gravenberch was, last season, very important as well. With Alexis Mac Allister only being back for two or three weeks of the pre-season, we lost a little bit of that control in our midfield. But Ryan will be back next week and Macca will be fit again, and we need to find a better balance.”

Carragher clearly wasn’t satisfied with the answer as he expressed more of his concerns. He asked Slot if he similarly felt concerned by Liverpool over-committing in attack, which allowed Bournemouth to counter and equalise, saying:

Slot then defended his team, saying he felt his ‘rest defence’ was in order, and insisted that it was simply a brilliant counter by Bournemouth. That said, he did admit that Andy Robertson had pushed up higher than he needed to, but concluded that it’s really how he wants his team to play:

“That’s also who we were and who we are – and that’s why we see such a nice game if you watch Liverpool. We are not going to a low block to defend.”

Carragher didn’t like that line, clearly feeling as though Slot’s tactics were perhaps a little foolhardy. He said:

Slot replied: “You’re allowed to say this. But then you need to support a team that plays 11 players in their own box. I prefer to see this [what Liverpool did against Bournemouth].

“But I prefer even more to not see ourselves counter-attacked – that I agree on. But I like that our players like to play football – last season we were a joy to watch. Paris Saint-Germain do similar things to this.”

Although it’s far too soon to suggest Liverpool have problems under Slot that won’t be addressed or solved, it’s fair to say there are some issues within the team that still haven’t been fixed. Carragher immediately spotted how open they looked against Bournemouth at times, and that defensive frailty – in particular a lack of protection in midfield, leading to a vulnerable-looking backline – has been apparent in recent weeks.

As the season goes on, it will be interesting to see if Slot can successfully better-balance his team, or if their lack of control in games becomes a common theme.