Jamie Carragher was on the receiving end of a ribbing from a Manchester United talent during CBS Sports' coverage of the Champions League on Thursday
Jamie Carragher reacts
Jamie Carragher was ribbed(Image: CBS Sports)
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Lisandro Martinez replied that he only watches "quality players" in a thinly veiled dig to Micah Richards and Jamie Carragher when asked about who his favourite CBS Sports presenter is. The pair of pundits were joined by Thierry Henry and Kate Scott for coverage of Manchester United's Champions League clash with Sabah on Thursday evening.
United managed a 4-0 win over the Azerbaijani side, with Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandez, Benjamin Sesko and Martinez each finding the scoresheet. And it was a particularly memorable evening for Martinez in particular, who managed his first goal at Old Trafford since his arrival in 2022.
The Argentine defender was in high spirits in the aftermath, as he gave an interview to the CBS panel. And his sense of humour was on full display when asked by Richards who his favourite host was.
Having singled out Henry as his top pick, Carragher then asked: "What about us defenders?" which prompted a side-splitting response from the 28-year-old. He said: "I watch quality players, you know?"
The remark brought the house down in the studio, with Henry, Carragher and Richards erupting in laughter and breaking into applause. The banter didn't end there, though, with Martinez - a man of notably few words - taking further delight in poking fun at Carragher's expense.
When Richards asked whether he used to watch the former Liverpool defender and what he thought of him as a footballer, Martinez replied: "As a player? Good person you know," much to the delight of those in the studio.
It follows Carragher's earlier scepticism regarding Martinez at centre-half shortly after his arrival at the club in 2022, with the enforcer standing at just 5ft9'. Speaking on Sky Sports at the time, the 48-year-old said: "We should never judge managers or players too early, but I'm convinced this can't work because the size of him playing in a back four.
"Maybe he could go left-back, maybe he could play in a back three, but in a back four, he cannot play there in the Premier League."
aving been proved wrong by Martinez, who has more than held his own in one of the world's most physically gruelling leagues, Carragher issued an apology the following year.
He said: "He (Martinez) is a warrior and a leader. He and Casemiro are the two new signings who have transformed Man Utd. So apologies to Lisandro Martinez and Man United fans, you can stop tweeting me now about it."
Lisandro Martinez speaks into a microphone
Lisandro Martinez joked with Jamie Carragher(Image: CBS Sports)
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It comes as the Reds have seen similar success in the Champions League, as they ran out 2-1 winners over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
Goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister cancelled out Marcos Llorente's opener, with Liverpool climbing to 13th in the league standings. Up next in Europe for Andoni Iraola's men is an away trip to LASK come October 14.
However, the Reds will now turn their attention to domestic league and cup duties before the end of September. Liverpool host Fulham at 3pm on Saturday, before facing Tottenham Hotspur in the EFL Cup on Tuesday, September 15 at Anfield.
A trip to Bournemouth then awaits on Sunday, September 20 to round off September's matches for the club.