JAMIE CARRAGHER'S CLAIM: LUIS DIAZ ONLY GREAT DUE TO "EASIER" BUNDESLIGA
Jamie Carragher defended Liverpool's decision to sell Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich for £65.5m, arguing it was "good business" for a player he rated as "good, not great."
Jamie Carragher thinks Liverpool might miss Luis Diaz this season since they don't have anyone who plays quite like him. Still, he believes the £65.5 million Bayern Munich paid for Diaz was a good deal for Liverpool.
Diaz played 148 games for Liverpool, scoring 41 goals. He helped them win five trophies in his three and a half years there, including last season's Premier League title.
But soon after celebrating the trophy, Diaz moved to Bayern for £65.5 million.
Liverpool brought in Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike to boost their attack in a busy transfer period. Yet, some people wondered why they were okay with letting Diaz go.
These questions have grown louder because Liverpool hasn't played well since the season started. Slot's new signings haven't lived up to the hype.
On the other hand, Diaz has been great in German football. He has seven goals and five assists in his first 12 Bundesliga games. He also has three Champions League goals.
Carragher, a former Liverpool defender, talked about Diaz's departure on The Overlap. He said the club's leaders might have thought differently than Arne Slot, who might have wanted to keep Diaz.
But they considered he’s 28, and giving him a new contract means paying him a lot, Carragher said.
It was a good deal for Liverpool, and I'll argue with anyone about that. He'll look amazing in the Bundesliga because it's not as tough as the Premier League.
Carragher added, “Diaz was a good player for Liverpool, but not great. He wasn't like Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, or Mohamed Salah. He was just good.
Although Wirtz isn't the same type of player as Diaz, Carragher hopes he can fill the gap, especially after his good game against West Ham.
Carragher said Liverpool got some good years out of him and got a good price, so it was a good deal for Liverpool.
What they haven't done, Carragher stated, is replace him.
But if Wirtz becomes as good as we hope, maybe he's a different type of player, but can fill that role between the lines on the left.
Carragher thinks Wirtz's performance against West Ham should be what everyone expects, considering his high transfer fee of £116 million.
Carragher said that he watched Wirtz play well against Real Madrid, but the West Ham game was the first time that Wirtz seemed a cut above everyone else. That's how it should be when you pay that kind of money.
I'm not trying to put more pressure on him, but that was the first time I'd seen him and thought, "He looks a level above everyone else." That shouldn't be a one-off.
“While he didn’t set up a goal or score, so we still need to see that, I want to see that level of play most weeks because he’s a superstar, the best player in Germany, and broke the British transfer record before Alexander Isak. I need to see that.”
Carragher wants Liverpool to dominate teams like Sunderland and Leeds, even if they don't always win. He hopes Wirtz is getting started now.
Carragher has always opposed Liverpool changing managers during the season. He hopes the club can build on their 2-0 win against West Ham.
It felt like a big week, and I felt West Ham away was the toughest of those games, he explained.
It wasn't just that he had three games to save his job, but also the nature of the opposition. These included a team that has been in the bottom three all season, West Ham; a promoted team in Sunderland; and another promoted team, Leeds, also in the bottom three.
“It felt like if you don’t get results there, it does feel a little bit like… where do you go?
“Liverpool has never changed a manager who has won the league. And then, who do you get? The idea of putting an interim manager in just feels impossible.”
There have been rumours about Steven Gerrard possibly taking over from Slot as interim manager.
Carragher doubts these rumours and believes fans are mainly hoping Slot can turn things around.
When asked if the Gerrard links could be real, Carragher said, No, I wouldn't think so.
It's because he's been a manager and had success at Rangers. He is a well-known figure back in Liverpool and around town.
“But I don’t think most Liverpool fans are hoping for Steven Gerrard. I think everyone is desperate for it to work for Slot.
Still, the problem with being on such a bad run is how long does it continue? So, I do feel like it was a big week.
ALISSON "OPEN" TO LIVERPOOL EXIT AS JUVENTUS PREPARE MASSIVE SWAP DEAL OFFER
With Alisson Becker open to a Juventus move, Liverpool is scouring the market for a replacement ahead of a major summer rebuild.
Liverpool isn’t just sitting around; it’s actively searching for someone to take Alisson Becker’s spot since Juventus looks serious about making a bid for their veteran keeper. Even though Alisson’s got a year left on his deal after the club triggered an extension back in March, he might leave this summer.
He’s been Liverpool’s go-to guy in goal since he arrived from Roma in 2018; he’s played 332 games, cost £67 million, and for years, he was untouchable. But injuries have piled up during the 2025/26 season, and it’s starting to look like his time at Anfield could be coming to an end.
Juventus are now right in the mix. Apparently, Alisson isn’t against the idea of leaving Liverpool, and Juventus could even throw their own goalkeeper, Michele Di Gregorio, into the deal for the Brazilian.
Juve are ready to offer Alisson a contract running through the summer of 2028, with an extra year as an option. Sky Sports says Liverpool already knows what’s happening and is getting their ducks in a row before a massive transfer window.
The club’s facing a big summer. Salah and Robertson are going, and now they might need a new keeper too. Giorgi Mamardashvili has stepped up when Alisson was out, playing 18 games across all competitions, but he’s injured himself, leaving Slot with just Freddie Woodman as his only fit option.
Recently, Slot was asked if losing Alisson at the same time as Robertson and Salah would be too much. He said, “The club makes decisions it thinks are right. If this happens, there's a reason behind it, maybe another good reason why we did what we did.”
He pointed out that Liverpool doesn’t make transfers on a whim. Decisions are thought through, with the club’s interests always at heart.
Regarding keeping Alisson for his experience, Slot admitted that’s one argument, but there are others and, ultimately, the club will decide what’s best. Alisson’s contract still has a year left.
When pressed about Juventus, Slot replied, “Ali’s main focus is clear; he wants to get back in goal for Liverpool as soon as possible and then play for Brazil. That’s his short- and mid-term future.”
LIVERPOOL WARNED TO OFFER CURTIS JONES NEW CONTRACT BEFORE 14-MONTH DEADLINE
Analysis: Curtis Jones’ elite passing stats and why Jermaine Pennant believes Liverpool cannot afford to lose the versatile midfielder.
Liverpool really needs to sort out a new contract for Curtis Jones before they make the same mistake it did with Luis Diaz. That’s what the Inside Liverpool panel thinks, especially now that Diaz is lighting up Bayern Munich and making Liverpool’s transfer moves look pretty questionable.
Bayern’s front three, with Diaz in the mix, have racked up 100 goals across all competitions this season – the first time any non-Spanish team has done that. Diaz himself has bagged 26 goals in 46 matches and just scored against PSG in the Champions League semi-final.
Looking back, Liverpool probably wish they hadn’t let Diaz walk for £65 million last summer. Since then, fans at Anfield haven’t seen anyone who brings what he did: that relentless pressing, always looming as a threat on the counter. Sure, they’ve brought in Rio Ngumoha, a teenager, just 17, but Arne Slot, the coach, knows you can’t just expect him to fill those shoes right away.
On talkSPORT’s Inside Liverpool, Jermaine Pennant, who has played for the club, said that Liverpool has to bring in another proven attacker over the summer. Pennant’s point: Diaz was great whether he played in the middle or on the left, and Liverpool needs someone with that kind of flexibility. You don’t want to sign a backup like Hugo Ekitike and then end up overcrowding with too many strikers when the main guy returns.
Now, Jones could end up in the same boat this summer. There’s a lot of uncertainty around his future, and when you look at the numbers, he’s only got 14 months left on his contract. Several clubs in England and Europe are watching, and he’s only started 15 games for Liverpool this season.
Even though he hasn’t played much, Jones is impressing; he’s second only to Rodri in midfielder passes per 90 minutes in the Premier League. He’s also ranked second behind Moises Caicedo for passing accuracy, and right behind Rayan Cherki for carries. Pennant said the club can’t afford to let him go: Jones is so versatile; you can play him anywhere in midfield or even right back. He knows the club, loves it, and helps connect the squad.
Jones has been one of the top performers recently. Pennant thinks Liverpool should offer him a new deal, especially since the squad is thinning out and they’ve already lost Trent Alexander-Arnold. In the end, it’s up to Jones if he wants to stay or move for more game time, but Liverpool has to make the offer while they still can.
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