Liverpool win masks defensive flaws

Liverpool beat Bournemouth 4-2 to begin their Premier League title defence, but Jamie Carragher criticised the display for a lack of control.

Liverpool win exposes fragile defense

Liverpool opened the Premier League season with a 4-2 win over Bournemouth, with Antoine Semenyo scoring twice for Bournemouth to level around a late burst from Liverpool as Federico Chiesa struck before Mo Salah finished the job with a solo effort.

After the final whistle, Carragher criticised the display on Sky Sports, saying Liverpool lost control and singled out Ibrahima Konate for a costly moment. He noted Arne Slot’s substitutions were intended to shore up the defence after a wobbly spell, and warned that if the team continue this way they risk the season ahead.

The match underlines a familiar tension in Slot’s setup: two attacking full backs and a roaming number ten can create overloads, but they also invite gaps at the back. Liverpool won this time, but the defensive fragility and a mid-game reshuffle echo what critics warned about in the Community Shield. If the backline stays exposed, and Konate remains vulnerable in key moments, title pressure will compound these early alarms. The challenge is not just personnel but balance—reining in ambition without surrendering pressure and pace.

Highlights

The next fixtures will test whether Liverpool can stabilise the backline