Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher questioned one of the Reds' players for their part in Aston Villa taking the lead during the penultimate game of the Premier League season
21:02, 15 May 2026Updated 21:10, 15 May 2026
Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa scores his team's first goal past Giorgi Mamardashvili of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Liverpool at Villa Park on May 15, 2026 in Birmingham, England
Morgan Rogers gave Aston Villa the lead against Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
Jamie Carragher suggested Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili could have done more for Aston Villa's opening goal in the sides' meeting on Friday.
The Reds went to Villa Park knowing that a win would secure Champions League qualification, but they found themselves behind going in at half-time following a superb finish from Morgan Rogers.
A set-piece was once again Liverpool's undoing, with a corner moving back before being played into Rogers, who found himself in acres of space before directing the ball past an outstretched Mamardashvili, and into the net at the far post, leading Carragher to question the Red's goalkeeper.
"They were up to something, you don’t play a corner that far back," Carragher said on commentary for Sky Sports. "It’s something they’ve seen obviously, a lot goes into before it comes in, but you still need the finish from Morgan Rogers.
"That’s what this goal’s about. He got space in the box, we hadn’t seen him too much in this game.
"It doesn’t fly right in the top corner. I don’t know if I’m being harsh on the goalkeeper, maybe he’s unsighted slightly, but that’s another one, another bonus for them.
"Maybe I’m being a little bit harsh, maybe we need a goalkeeper up here, but something doesn’t look right to me."
Mamardashvili was once again deputizing in goal for the absent Alisson Becker, with the Brazilian missing again as he continues his recovery from injury.
With speculation continuing over a potential move to Juventus, Alisson may well have already played his final game for Liverpool if he isn't able to return in time to face Brentford on the final weekend, with Mamardashvili eyeing up the No.1 spot for next season.
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Liverpool.com says: He said it himself, and it is very harsh to lay any blame at Mamardashvili's feet for that goal.
The first thing to say is that it's a brilliant finish, and any goalkeeper would have had problems with it. The second thing is, why was Rogers given so much space in such a dangerous position?
Set-pieces have consistently been Liverpool's Achilles heel this season, but leaving arguably Villa's best player completely free in the penalty area, and allowing him the time to get his shot away, was always asking for trouble. There's others who need to take the blame there before you look at Mamardashvili.