Jamie Carragher slammed for double standards after heavily criticising Liverpool player following dismal Champions League defeat

Jamie Carragher is drawing the ire of Liverpool fans after his criticism of one of their star players, following last night’s 2-0 defeat to PSG in the Champions League.

Arne Slot’s Premier League champions were comfortably outplayed in the French capital. Goals from Désiré Doue and Khvicha Kvaratshkelia secured an emphatic win for last year’s Champions League winners, and it could have been a lot worse for Carragher’s former club.

Jamie Carragher: “Like watching a team from a lower division”

Speaking on CBS Sport, Carragher said, ”That was like watching a team from a lower division.

“The gulf in class was very worrying from a Liverpool point of view.

“In some ways, it’s a great result as it should have been five or six. But the gulf between the two teams was absolutely startling when you consider last season.

“Yes, Liverpool got battered at PSG and they won 1-0, we know that.

“But the second leg at Anfield was a really close game, two top teams. Liverpool then go and spend £450m, probably a lot more than PSG spent in the summer.

“To see the gulf there is worrying. You think, how’s it got to that? How’s it got that bad?”

One player in particular came in for heavy criticism from the Liverpool legend.

“Awful all season”

Carragher, who won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005, singled out French defender Ibrahima Konate as being ‘awful all season’.

As Arne Slot set up with a five-man defence in Paris, Carragher expected captain Virgil van Dijk to be offered more support.

He doesn’t believe the Dutchman was adequately protected by his defensive partner.

“Defenders were jumping into midfield, there was no one to mark and Virgil van Dijk, at 34 years of age, was having to run in there and across. He couldn’t do it.

“People have criticised Van Dijk for his performances this season, but I think it’s been harsh. He plays every game, and the fella next to him has been awful all season – and poor again tonight. Konate makes a mistake every game, so that’s not easy to play alongside.”

Jamie Carragher slams Konate in defence of VVD.

"Van Dijk at 34 was having to run, he couldn't do it. People have criticized Van Dijk, I think it's been harsh. The fellow next to him, awful. Makes mistakes every game. That's not easy to play along side."pic.twitter.com/adMlGsI4N1

— Kyama ⚽ (@ElijahKyama_) April 8, 2026

Carragher also took aim at Arne Slot’s tactical set up against Luis Enrique’s European champions. The Champions League winner explained how the back five actually caused more problems than it solved.

“They were actually more open with the back five than they would be with a back four because they went man-to-man all over the pitch and the three centre-backs had to cover the width of the pitch.”

Fans react to Carragher’s Konate comments

However, despite much of Carragher’s criticism of last night’s performance seemingly being justified, a lot of people were not happy with him singling out Konate. Especially at the expense of van Dijk, who many believe has significantly dropped off, form wise, this season.

Liverpool currently find themselves languishing in fifth place in the Premier League table. They were humbled 4-0 and eliminated from the FA Cup by Manchester City at the weekend. Now their only chance of silverware hangs by a thread in the Champions League.

And Reds fans, and rival fans alike, were quick to highlight the hypocricy they believe Jamie Carragher has shown in defending van Dijk at all costs during a turbulent campaign for the Anfield club.

Leave football before football leaves you. If he can't run it's over. Double standards twat @Carra23

— Karl Murray (@kjdoublem) April 9, 2026

So let me get this right? Carragher says that the game looks too easy for Van Dijk and there's levels to this game, but when he has to run, it's not fair n he doesn't want to do it because he's 34?!?! Fuck off Jamie

— Ashley Duxbury (@AshDuxbury) April 9, 2026

Konate was the only player putting in some effort last night. And which mistakes is he talking about??? I would rather someone shows that he is trying than doing hair flicks all game while doing nothing.. fuck off Carragher

— Iceman???? (@martinstunna1) April 9, 2026

Watch VVD for Kvara’s goal. Jogging, not tracking. Asleep.

— Sasha Watson (@Swatso285) April 9, 2026

Explain this defending Mr. Own goal pic.twitter.com/a5HJQIrkTN

— Olúwaségun (@afcsince04) April 9, 2026

But Casemiro is told the football has left him even though he basically had no quality midfielders next to him. One narrative for Casemiro but another for VVD who has been shocking this season. Carragher just needs to start calling things straight.

— Adrian king (@adriank09) April 9, 2026

Making excuses for Van Dijk because he cannot run.
I’m sorry but if you can’t run you shouldn’t be playing for Liverpool. Digging out Konate..? I’m sure Konate’s thinking “look at all this ground I have to cover because he can’t run.”

Dreadful excuse.

— Michael (@Nichol_5) April 9, 2026

Surprise surprise. Jamie protecting VVD again.Konate an easy target for him. VVD has made plenty of mistakes this season and never once has he called him out.

— Kevin Ward (@KevinWard14) April 9, 2026

Can’t wait till he leaves Liverpool and they finally pair their mighty VVD with someone else to see how much Konate has been putting up with that weak guy who’s always running away from attackers

— D (@youngGBAD) April 9, 2026

Did he not watch Van Dijk on the 2nd goal today?!

— Goose (@goose_clark) April 9, 2026

Given how one sided the first leg of last night’s quarter-final was, Liverpool will count themselves lucky that PSG were not more ruthless in front of goal.

Despite being emphatically outplayed, Arne Slot’s still have a chance of producing another memorable Anfield comeback in Europe when the second leg arrives.