Jamie Carragher’s excuse for Liverpool and van Dijk’s defensive display vs Villarreal doesn’t wash

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Rio Ngumoha was the star of the night for Liverpool against Villarreal but how far can he go and what is his ceiling? Jamie Carragher explains why Liverpool and Virgil van Dijk were defensively poor vs Villarreal This is Liverpool in the Champions League; there simply can be no excuses for what unfolded against Villarreal, and in truth, the team got away with it.

While Carragher’s excuse for the defensive display doesn’t and shouldn’t wash with supporters, he thinks the issues stemmed right ‘through the centre of defence’, as he told CBS Sports. “They didn’t look ready for the game,” said Carragher.

They deserved to go 2-0 up.” Carragher gives his flowers to ‘standout’ Rio Ngumoha One massive shining light for Liverpool was the performance of Rio Ngumoha, because he was simply outstanding. Ngumoha supplied two assists against Villarreal and secured the Man of the Match award, with Carragher stating that he was ‘the best player on the pitch.’ There aren’t many Liverpool players who could have held their heads high when the full-time whistle blew, but Carragher was right to give his flowers to Ngumoha.