Monday 15 February 2016 17:05, UK
Aston Villa are an embarrassment and should be classed as one of the worst teams in Premier League history, according to Jamie Carragher.
The Sky Sports expert delivered his damning verdict following Liverpool's 6-0 thrashing of Remi Garde's side at Villa Park on Sunday afternoon.
Goals from Daniel Sturridge, James Milner, Emre Can, Divock Origi, Nathaniel Clyne and Kolo Toure condemned Villa to their heaviest home league defeat since 1935, leaving them eight points adrift of safety with 12 games left to play.
And Carragher insisted the team that played on Sunday simply aren't Premier League class.
"They are an embarrassment and they have been for a few years," he said on Super Sunday.
"It won't be that team in the Championship, they'll change it obviously, but if that team is in the Championship it will be closer to the bottom than the top - there's no doubt about that.
"I was thinking about how difficult it is for young kids. The dream is to play in the Premier League. If you watch Aston Villa it gives you hope with how that group of players are playing in the Premier League, at that level.
"I always think when teams go down there's always two or three players where other managers in the Premier League will try and take them.
"I can't imagine one Premier League manager looking at that team and thinking there's one player there he'd want to take into his squad. That's how poor they are."
Liverpool led 2-0 at half-time and even before the avalanche of second-half goals, Carragher described Villa as the worst Premier League side he could remember.
They will finish with more points than the Derby side of 2007/08 and the Sunderland team of 2005/06, but Carragher says they have been sliding to this level for several years.
"I said at half-time they are one of the worst I've seen and was reliably informed Derby and Sunderland may be the worst," he added.
"Forget about what points they are on, I think they are the worst I've seen. I can't remember those seasons. That's as bad as you're going to see.
I can't imagine one Premier League manager looking at that team and thinking there's one player there he'd want to take into his squad. That's how poor they are.
"I think we've known for a long time they are going down, not because of where they are in the league but because they are the worst team in the league. That's why they are going down, nevermind being bottom.
"It's been coming for a few years, really. I've been watching the games for Sky and have been surprised they've stayed up. Christian Benteke has kept them up for two or three years, but with him gone, they've had no chance.
"They are one of the worst teams in the Premier League."
Carragher also argued Liverpool have been "average" for much of this season, but says the return of Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho from injury has elevated them to a higher level.
He said: "Brendan Rodgers could look back and say the injuries to Daniel Sturridge maybe cost him his job. That's how much he elevates this Liverpool team.
"Without him and Coutinho, it's an average team and we've been watching that for the last few months.
"We're expecting Jurgen Klopp to come in and make a difference, but I think he said in the week he's not David Copperfield. You need top players.
"That's what Liverpool have. They haven't got that many of them, but the one true one they have is too injury-prone and that's the problem for them.
"If they can keep him fit between now and the end of the season, you would expect a good run."
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