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Jamie Carragher hails ‘really good’ West Ham star vs Liverpool but slams ‘stupid’ teammate
Even as West Ham United collapsed to lose 5-1 at Liverpool in the Carabao Cup, Jamie Carragher felt there was one visiting player who could hold his head up high.
To think, there was a few minutes in the first half when it appeared that a shock was on the cards.
West Ham United forced themselves into a surprise lead early on at Anfield, thanks to a Jarrel Quansah own goal and a goal mouth scramble that would not have looked out of place in the fourth-tier.
Liverpool quickly came roaring back, however. A brace apiece from Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo not only firing the Reds into the next round but also highlighting the fearsome attacking depth at Arne Slot’s disposal.
There were, at least, a few fleeting signs of positivity from a West Ham side who found themselves 1-0 up but ended the game 5-1 down.
HITC understands despite a dismal start to the season, and the under-fire Spaniard was enthused by the performances of summer signings Jean-Clair Todibo and, particularly, Crysencio Summerville.
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher felt the latter was The Hammers’ biggest threat on the night. Summerville came agonisingly close to repeating the goal he scored at Anfield for Leeds back in 2022, as a second-half effort zipped just wide of the far post.
Jamie Carragher praises Crysencio Summerville as Liverpool hammer West Ham
“Summerville has had moments in the game where he’s looked really sharp. Really good touches,” Carragher told .
“West Ham were so close to getting a goal and they probably deserve a goal in the second half.”
Carragher was less enamoured, however, with the performance of Edson Alvarez.
The Mexico international enjoyed an impressive first season in England – Lopetegui claimed Alvarez was enjoying career-best form at West Ham shortly after replacing David Moyes – but the midfielder has stumbled out of the blocks in 2023/24.
With question marks remaining over his lack of pace, Alvarez followed up a poor display in the 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea with a foolish challenge on Mo Salah which earned him a red card shortly after Liverpool had gone 3-1 ahead.
“What a stupid decision when you’re on a yellow card,” says a baffled Carragher. “There’s two or three players running after Mo Salah, it’s not like he’s all alone. It certainly wasn’t last ditch. Ridiculous decision for me.
“He’ll be missing now at the weekend.”
Julen Lopetegui lauds Summerville and singles out Carlos Soler too
Life does not get any easier for Lopetegui and West Ham.
A trip to Brentford represents a daunting task for a side who have plummeted back down to earth following an impressive summer window.
And, as Lopetegui looks for a solution, it would not be a surprise to see Todibo and Summerville earn themselves a start in West London after standing head and shoulders above their out-of-sorts team-mates on Merseyside.
Ex-West Ham coach Kevin Nolan criticised Todibo after Liverpool’s fourth and fifth goals but, while far from a faultless display, Lopetegui was left feeling more positive than negative.
The former Spain and Real Madrid boss was also impressed by a first start in Hammers colours for Paris Saint-Germain loanee Carlos Soler.
“There are positives, such as the players who played for the first time in the starting line-up, though it is not easy to say that today,” Lopetegui said at his post-match press conference. “People like Jean-Clair, Carlos [Soler], and Crysencio all had a very good match.
“We have to take the positives and look forward to Brentford.
“We are now eliminated from the Carabao Cup, and now we have to put our focus on the more important competitions, such as the Premier League.
“I think that we have to think about the next match against Brentford, as this is a very important match for us. We have to be ready to compete and take the positives because they are going to demand this.”