Jason McAteer wasn’t happy with Darwin Nunez’s defending during Kaoru Mitoma’s winning goal as Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool were knocked out of the FA Cup by Brighton on Sunday.
The former Liverpool midfielder was annoyed by Nunez’s lack of commitment to try and prevent the Brighton forward from putting the ball into the back of the net, as he stated that it ‘drives me mad’.
It was those defensive fragilities showcasing themselves once more for the Reds, with Pervis Estupiñán being left unmarked on the edge of the box during a free-kick in stoppage-time.
That allowed the Brighton left-back to put a cross into the box and Mitoma was first to win the duel, keep his composure, take a touch, before guiding the ball into the back of the net in an outstanding fashion.
There were errors all over the shop from the away side and it’s the same old story for the struggling Merseyside outfit.
But it was Nunez that left McAteer very frustrated and he thinks his former side might just end up winning ‘nothing’ this season, as he told beIN SPORTS (29/01/23 at 3:30 pm).
“When the free-kick is set and you are looking around to see who you are marking,” said McAteer. “How does that happen? Two men at the back stick?! That should not happen.
“This I can kind of understand (Gomez turning his back as Mitoma takes a first touch and then shoots with his second), it’s another phase, he’s taken it down, everyone is moving around, you lose a player and I can kind of get that one where he is free.
“That one, I don’t understand (Estupinan being free prior to his cross to Mitoma). I don’t how he has managed to be left with that much time and space?! I would be critical of Nunez. Watch Nunez. He (Mitoma) does Gomez, fair enough, he tries to block the shot.
“Does Nunez do enough there?! Does he put his body on the line to say ‘I am going to stop that from going in?’. He is there! Throw your body at it. You don’t dangle your leg. It’s the last minute of the game. You defend with everything you have got. Put your body on the line. Take one for the team. It’s half-hearted. It drives me mad. We could end up with nothing this season.”
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HOPE
It’s the small matter of Liverpool vs Real Madrid in the knockout stages of the Champions League next month.
Klopp’s side are playing knockout football and defending like they are in the heat of a knockout game, so perhaps the Champions League will be their last ray of hope?
It’s a big ask, but the 2023 Champions League final will be played in Istanbul. In 2005, Liverpool missed out on a Champions League finish in the Premier League and the same could happen again this season, so can history repeat itself?
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
