The former Reds defender hit out at the team's "awful performance" in the 1-1 draw with relegation-threatened Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday (15.03.26) and feels that the manager has to shoulder the blame for such a disappointing follow-up to last season's league title win.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher said: "Awful performance, considering the opposition. That’s not trying to be disrespectful to Tottenham, but they have been the worst team in the Premier League for the last couple of months.

"Exactly who you want to be playing, playing at home as well, the incentive of the other results this weekend - then to put in a performance like that. But it’s been like that all season and the big question on everyone’s lips is, ‘Is that down to the manager or the make-up of the squad?’

"Could a new manager revitalise these players and bring that energy and intensity back into this team? I’m not sure. I think a lot of it goes back to what happened in the summer, the profile of the players coming in.

"There are just too many players wanting to play when the ball’s at their feet. They don’t want to dig in when the opposition have got the ball and make it difficult. That’s why it’s so easy to play against this Liverpool team."

Carragher's fellow pundit Roy Keane described Liverpool as "bad champions" and said that the players must take accountability for such an underwhelming season.

He said: "There’s definitely something missing at Liverpool, obviously. They are way off it. There’s definitely tension in the stadium. There’s something amiss, whether it be players, issues with the manager, recruitment hasn’t panned out how they hoped.

"Liverpool have got to have a good look in the mirror. They’ve been bad champions. They’re now 21 points behind (leaders) Arsenal. What a drop-off that is. That is so bad."