Jamie Carragher blasts William Saliba defensive error that led to Liverpool’s opening goal, criticizing his poor positioning in Arsenal’s backline
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher did not hold back in his assessment of William Saliba following Arsenal’s draw to Liverpool at Anfield, the pundit slammed Saliba defensive error that led to the Liverpool opening goal. The French centre-back was caught out of position for Cody Gakpo’s opening goal, a mistake that Carragher described as “really poor” during his halftime analysis on Sky Sports.
Arsenal, known for their man-to-man defensive approach, struggled to contain Liverpool’s attacking movement. Carragher pointed out that Saliba failed to cover Ben White, leaving a gap that Liverpool exploited. “His starting position is really poor,” Carragher remarked, emphasizing that Saliba was neither in the right-back nor centre-back position when the ball was played over the top.
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The Gunners were further criticized by Stephen Warnock, another former Liverpool defender, who noted that Arsenal were “caught sleeping” for Gakpo’s goal. A quick throw-in from Andy Robertson led to a well-placed cross that found Gakpo unmarked, allowing him to score with ease.
William Saliba remains confident in his abilities. In his recent interview, he acknowledged his potential but admitted he still has room for improvement. “I think I am one of the best, but not yet the best defender in the world,” he told Téléfoot, expressing his ambition to refine his game.
Carragher’s comments have sparked debate among fans, with some defending Saliba’s overall performance while others agree that his lapse in concentration proved costly for Arsenal. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Saliba to see how he responds to this criticism and whether he can solidify his reputation as one of the Premier League’s top defenders.
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