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Jamie Carragher urges Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren to go back to basics

Liverpool's Dejan Lovren is dejected
Image: Dejan Lovren struggled against West Ham on Saturday

Jamie Carragher reflected on Liverpool's shock 3-0 home defeat to West Ham - and urged defender Dejan Lovren to get "back to basics".

The Hammers claimed a first win at Anfield in 52 years, thanks to goals from Manuel Lanzini, Mark Noble and Diafra Sakho in the Premier League on Saturday.

Philippe Coutinho's red card shortly after the restart compounded a miserable afternoon for the Reds but, dissecting the defeat on Super Sunday, Carragher's focus was on a defensive display littered with "mistakes". 

"It was back to the bad days of last season at home for Liverpool with defensive mistakes," Carragher, speaking from Swansea's Liberty Stadium, told Sky Sports

"Lanzini was excellent on the day but it was a poor header from [Martin] Skrtel and then [Joe] Gomez just needed to sort out his feet at the back post. 

"I don't know what Lovren's doing [for the second goal]. He has two or three chances to clear his lines. It probably summed up his whole display.

The only way to describe Lovren's performance was David Luiz-like. He was doing things you don't really want to see centre-backs do.
Jamie Carragher on Dejan Lovren

"Coutinho had gone off by [the time of the third goal] but every goal could have been prevented.

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"The only way to describe Lovren's performance was David Luiz-like.

"He was doing things you don't really want to see centre-backs do: 50-yard passes - that at times got there - but there was one occasion where he did a double stepover and then got tackled.

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Matt Le Tissier believes Liverpool paid a dear price for a poor performance from their defence in the 3-0 defeat to West Ham

"I don't know if it's overconfidence after a couple of good performances but I'm watching him thinking, just do the basics.

"You've got three clean sheets; your job is to keep them out, not show everyone what else you can do. Defend first."

Coutinho will miss Liverpool's crunch trip to Manchester United on September 12 - live on Sky Sports - and Carragher concedes his absence could be costly.

Philippe Coutinho (R) and Mark Noble were both sent off
Image: Philippe Coutinho (R) and Mark Noble were both sent off

"It's a massive blow - he's Liverpool's best player by a long way," he added. "He wasn't at his best yesterday but every time the ball comes to him you think something could happen. He's going to be a massive miss.

"After speaking about their great start, you've got to go to Old Trafford and it could end up being a bad start."

See Manchester United take on Liverpool on Saturday Night Football on September 12, kick-off at 5.30pm.

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