Jamie Carragher's Champions League Format Frustration
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has expressed his frustration with the new Champions League format, declaring he has "had enough" after seeing the potential last-16 opponents his former club could face. The criticism comes despite Liverpool securing a convincing 6-0 victory over Qarabag at Anfield on Wednesday night, which confirmed their third-place finish in the group stage.
Third-Place Finish Brings Tough Draw
Despite their strong performance against Qarabag, Liverpool's reward appears minimal, with a probable match-up against European heavyweights Atletico Madrid or Juventus in the first knockout round. Speaking on CBS Sport's Golazo show, Carragher bemoaned the draw, recalling how Liverpool were eliminated by eventual champions PSG last season despite finishing top of their group.
Carragher said: "I've just seen who Liverpool's potential opponents are, honest to God, this new format I've had enough of it. We finished top last year and got PSG, we finished third this year, listen to this, Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge, Galatasaray or Juventus, and we finished third!"
Carragher's Comparison with Manchester City
The former defender then took a swipe at Manchester City, suggesting they receive favourable draws in tournaments. "I've never known a team so lucky with draws than Man City in my life, they get the FA Cup final every year and just play League Two teams," he claimed.
However, Carragher was quickly corrected by fellow pundit Nico Cantor, who informed him that City actually face one of Benfica, Bodo/Glimt, Inter Milan, or Real Madrid. Carragher burst out laughing and conceded, "I'll take that," shaking hands with fellow analyst Micah Richards.
Liverpool's Mixed Group Stage Campaign
Liverpool's journey through the group stage has been inconsistent, marked by significant setbacks including a heavy home defeat to PSV and a loss against Galatasaray in Turkey. Despite these blips, they managed impressive away victories against Marseille and Inter Milan, along with a home win against Real Madrid, ultimately securing enough points for third place.
The comprehensive victory over Qarabag helped alleviate some of the disappointment from their recent last-gasp defeat by Bournemouth and ongoing Premier League struggles.
Injury Concerns for Arne Slot's Side
The only downside to Wednesday's match was a serious-looking muscular injury to Jeremie Frimpong, leaving Liverpool without any fit right-backs. He joins a growing list of absentees that includes Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, Joe Gomez, and Ibrahima Konate.
While Gomez and Konate are hopeful for Saturday's game against Newcastle, the injury situation remains a significant concern for a team that missed out on signing England defender Marc Guehi this month. Manager Arne Slot commented on Frimpong's injury, saying, "Let's see on Jeremie. We also go into a schedule of one game a week which would usually mean less injuries. But you're never sure."
As Liverpool prepare for their knockout round challenge, Carragher's comments highlight broader concerns about the fairness and competitiveness of the Champions League's new format, particularly for teams that finish in lower group positions yet face formidable opponents.
