Steve Nicol absolved one Liverpool participant of blame for what he described as his former membership’s ‘worst efficiency in a protracted, very long time’ on Sunday.
The Reds fell to their first Premier League defeat in virtually seven months yesterday when taking place 3-2 at Fulham, paying the value for a catastrophic first-half efficiency during which three very preventable targets have been conceded.
The again 4 of Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Curtis Jones have been collectively poor and every had particular person moments of culpability, with the Frenchman even being hauled off halfway by the second half and the Scottish right-back eviscerated by Jamie Carragher over his error for the hosts’ second purpose.
Nicol offers Jones a cross for Liverpool’s defensive ‘chaos’
Nicol was ready to excuse Liverpool’s quantity 17 provided that he was taking part in out of place at right-back because of the absences of pure choices in that place, however he ripped into the remainder of the defensive quartet for a calamitous displaying at Craven Cottage.
Talking on ESPN FC, the ex-Reds defender raged: “That was simply Liverpool’s worst efficiency in a protracted, very long time… Jones performed right-back final week. You are able to do that at dwelling, nevertheless it’s not practical considering he can go away to Fulham – a staff who’re prone to get at you – and count on him to defend correctly, so I do not need any blame hooked up to Curtis Jones.
“The opposite three [defenders], nonetheless – that have to be their worst three video games, each as a unit and as people, in a Liverpool jersey. It was simply utter chaos, and Konate getting substituted on the finish – he definitely couldn’t complain about it.”
Jones wasn’t completely innocent, however Nicol proper to have some sympathy
While Nicol is correct to acknowledge that Jones has needed to choose up one thing of a graveyard shift by filling in at right-back by necessity, the 24-year-old should nonetheless take some culpability for yesterday’s consequence.
He virtually provided the help for Ryan Sessegnon’s equaliser with a horrible unfastened contact in Liverpool’s penalty space and struggled to comprise the specter of Alex Iwobi on his flank, with the Nigerian scoring one purpose and establishing one other.
To be honest to the Toxteth native, although, he seemed far more snug when reverting to his pure midfield place as soon as Conor Bradley was launched halfway by the second half, and the Reds have been vastly improved after that substitution and tactical tweak from Arne Slot.
With the Northern Eire teen match once more and making a distinction when he got here on, absolutely he’ll be within the beginning XI for subsequent Sunday’s conflict towards West Ham, and Jones might discover himself within the quantity 10 position ought to Dominik Szoboszlai pay the value for an ineffective show at Fulham.
Liverpool’s quantity 17 wasn’t fully innocent at Craven Cottage, however he was not at all the worst performer in a pink shirt. An enormous enchancment is required all-round for the Irons’ go to to Anfield in six days’ time if we’re to keep away from one other stumble within the title run-in.
