Jamie Carragher was far from happy with one Liverpool star in particular after a controversial incident during the first-half of the Reds’ Premier League clash with Burnley at Turf Moor
Jamie Carragher
Jamie Carragher was far from happy with Milos Kerkez(Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher slammed Milos Kerkez for an “absolutely stupid” dive vs Burnley. The Hungarian fullback picked up a soft booking against the Lancashire side on Sunday.
As he attempted to charge into the Burnley penalty area, he dramatically fell to the floor amid limited contact. And almost immediately, referee Michael Oliver brandished a yellow card to the former Bournemouth man and awarded Burnley a free-kick.
Carragher, watching the game for Sky Sports, slammed Kerkez for his decision to go to ground, while he was full of praise for Oliver for punishing the defender.
Speaking on commentary, the former defender said: “I mean it was a dive, no doubt about that. I don’t think anybody in the stadium thought it wasn’t, it was so theatrical. I mean it was absolutely stupid, that.
“I don’t think there’s any contact there really, and he’s in a good position! I think he can hook his foot around that and get a cross in. As soon as I seen him make that run I thought he’s gonna be in a really good position on the byline.
"Well done to the referee as well. He was really quick, in a really good position to see it, Michael Oliver.”
Kerkez’s afternoon was then ended early having been replaced by Andy Robertson just before the 40-minute mark. On that change, Carragher added: “It’s always a shock for any player when they see their number come up in the first half but I think that’s good management from Arne Slot.
Milos Kerkez
Kerkez's dive earned him an early booking vs Burnley
“It was absolutely ridiculous what he tried to do in the first-half trying to win the penalty and then getting that foul. And then he had the foul on the halfway line, the manager is speaking to him about that.”
Kerkez, 21, was signed by Liverpool from Bournemouth as part of the Reds’ summer transfer splurge. He has so far made five appearances for the club in all competitions having displaced Robertson as the club’s starting left-back.
Kerkez’s booking was not the only controversial moment that Carragher offered his view on. The Liverpool icon also claimed that James Tarkowski should have stayed on pitch for his crunching challenge on Alexis Mac Allister despite suggesting others might not have been so lucky.
“It’s the follow through. He wins the ball but it’s the follow through. I think if he’s six inches higher he’s gonna have a huge problem, but it’s certainly a sore one for Mac Allister,” Carragher said.
“Caught him right on the boot, or the ankle. He plays the ball and he follows through. We saw a red card yesterday, I think the West Ham game, wasn’t it?
“Somebody was at full stretch and just couldn’t get there. Wins the ball and it’s just that follow through. Yellow card’s the right decision.”
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