Liverpool defender Andy Robertson has praised Fabio Carvalho for the midfielder’s goal at Manchester City. But he accepts the Reds ‘switched off’ to cause their Carabao Cup defeat.
Nathan Ake (58’) headed home a Kevin De Bruyne cross to secure Pep Guardiola’s squad a quarter-finals spot. The Citizens had twice taken the lead through Erling Haaland (10’) and Riyad Mahrez (47’) earlier on. But Carvalho (20’) and Mohamed Salah (48’) soon equalised.
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The Reds could not find a third equaliser despite Darwin Nunez enjoying a host of chances to score. But Robertson rues Liverpool hesitating as De Bruyne took a quick corner before curling the ball into the area from a better angle to find an unmarked Ake in the Reds’ box.
Robertson raises Liverpool’s failings amid praise for Carvalho at Manchester City
Robertson has picked apart Liverpool’s failings at Manchester City amid praise for Carvalho scoring in the Carabao Cup affair. The 20-year-old had produced the Reds’ first equaliser of the night. He steered James Milner’s low cross home after Joel Matip won possession back.
“It’s a good game,” Robertson told BBC Radio 5 Live. “Both sets of players were out on their feet, we always raise our games against each other.
“We didn’t start great. Go behind, Fabio scored a fabulous goal, we went behind early in the second half, reacted so well [and] had a couple of chances.
“Then we switched off at a short corner. These are things that can’t happen. Their changing room will be a lot happier than ours.”
Despite scoring, Carvalho did not have a great time at the Etihad Stadium
Despite scoring a well-taken finish, Carvalho did not have a great time at Manchester City before Liverpool lost 3-2. Jurgen Klopp replaced the Reds’ £5m, rising a further £3m with add-ons, signing from Fulham at the break. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain came on in his place.
Citizens defenders all too easily outmuscled Carvalho on too many occasions. He was also wasteful in possession in the rare moments the Portugal U21 talent had the ball. Carvalho completed just five passes from eight attempts, per WhoScored, and lost possession twice.
No Liverpool player recorded a worse pass success rate at Manchester City than Carvalho in the Carabao Cup tie. Substitute Jordan Henderson (64%, nine of 14) and Salah (67%, 10 of 15) were the Reds’ next-worst. While Jack Grealish (56%, five of nine) was City’s worst.
Salah, though, had recorded a worst pass success rate than Carvalho at the time of the 20-year-old’s substitution. The Egypt forward entered the break at 50% (two of four), while Nunez also completed fewer passes (three) than Carvalho (five) but from four attempts.
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