Jamie Carragher, English former football player and current pundit, is presented with the 'One Club Award' after a career consisting of 737 appearances for Liverpool, prior to the LaLiga EA Sports match between Athletic Club and Girona FC at Estadio de San Mames on September 23, 2025 in Bilbao, Spain.placeholder image
Jamie Carragher, English former football player and current pundit, is presented with the 'One Club Award' after a career consisting of 737 appearances for Liverpool, prior to the LaLiga EA Sports match between Athletic Club and Girona FC at Estadio de San Mames on September 23, 2025 in Bilbao, Spain. | Getty Images
Liverpool are being linked with several defenders as they look to bolster their options at centre-back
Liverpool are said to be among the clubs eyeing a move for Rennes star Jeremy Jacquet, as they look to bolster their options at centre-back.
In a profile of the player from back in the summer when Arsenal were initially linked, the Evening Standard described him as somebody who was “ exceptionally quick across the ground” and continued: “His playing style draws comparisons to Arsenal pair William Saliba and Gabriel, as he is aggressive, proactive, and unafraid to push high up the pitch to challenge attackers.”
His desire to push up the pitch and challenge attackers will be music to the ears of former Reds defender Jamie Carragher.
The Anfield legend let rip on Liverpool’s centre-backs during Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage. The hosts took the lead through former Liverpool player Harry Wilson, who was given acres of freedom by Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate to run into space and go on into score.
Carragher was annoyed that the Liverpool defence did not push up and close off the space for Wilson to run into.
He said when analysing the goal: "I'm sick of seeing it, not just with Liverpool, right throughout the Premier League, what centre-backs do in this situation.
"It's lazy defending, or it's a tactical instruction I don't like. Konate has to come across, and Van Dijk then takes the position of Konate. You fill the space, and then this guy here, Harry Wilson, won't run into the space.
"I'm sick of seeing it all the time, lazy defending from center-backs. Not just Liverpool, right throughout the Premier League. Harry Wilson does not make that run if Konate's across and Van Dijk's across.
"Whether that's come tactically from the manager, or they just want to sit in their armchairs in the middle of the pitch and let midfield players do their running for them."
If it is a tactical instruction from Slot then the potential arrival of Jacquet will not change much in that regard. However, if it is a case of Liverpool players not doing their job - signing a pacey defender who likes to push high against attackers will close off one way in which Liverpool are conceding goals.
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