Jamie Carragher Defends Emre Can Criticism After Liverpool Fan Backlash

Jamie Carragher has defended his criticism of Emre Can after accusing the Liverpool midfielder of being “found wanting” against Chelsea.

Can’s foul on Eden Hazard allowed the Chelsea playmaker to give his side the lead on Tuesday night in the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final, which finished 1-1.

Carragher’s comments about Can drew an angry response from Liverpool fans on social media, and the former Reds defender took to Kicca, per Thomas Jacobs of the Daily Mail, to stand by his views.

“My point is tonight was the first time he’s come up against top class attackers as the teams previously Lfc would expect to dominate and win as they have done & he’s impressed.”

Speaking on Sky Sports during the game, per Jacobs, Carragher pointed to the mistakes made by Can, which gave Chelsea the chance to go in front.

“He played really well in the last five or six games bringing the ball out,” said Carragher. “But against top-class players he’s been found wanting. He got beaten too easily and tried to rectify it and made two mistakes.”

Can has only recently been playing in defence for Liverpool. He was signed from Bayer Leverkusen as a midfielder last summer.

However, Liverpool’s recent conversion to a three-man defence has seen Can drop into the back line. His ability on the ball has helped Liverpool to improve of late under Brendan Rodgers. The draw with Chelsea extended the club’s unbeaten run to nine games, per the club’s official website.

Former Norway international and Bundesliga television pundit Jan Aage Fjortoft tweeted that Can was playing like a “modern centre-half.”

James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo, though, wrote that Can had been “naive” in gifting Chelsea the opportunity to take the lead.

Pearce wrote: “It was naive from the young German, who has adapted so well to a defensive role in recent weeks, and his mistake was punished as Hazard sent Simon Mignolet the wrong way from the spot.”

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It is far too early to dismiss Can’s prospects of establishing himself in Liverpool’s three-man defence on the basis of one mistake. The qualities he brings in possession and how he helps to start attacks are crucial to that system.

However, his deficiencies were exposed by Hazard and more opponents are likely to test the defensive side of Can’s game in upcoming fixtures.

If he can stand up to those examinations, then Rodgers’ three-man defence looks here to stay and Can will be a key feature of the formation.