"It's so poor from Chelsea's point of view" - Jamie Carragher slams Blues star for 'lazy' defending after loss against Liverpool

Jamie Carragher has laid into Chelsea star Reece James for his defending against Liverpool during their Premier League clash on Sunday (October 20). The pundit blamed James for the second goal the Blues conceded, as they lost 2-1.

Liverpool locked horns with Chelsea at Anfield in arguably their first big test of the Premier League season under Arne Slot. The Reds took the lead at the half-hour mark, courtesy of Mohamed Salah's penalty, putting them 1-0 up at the break.

A few minutes into the second period, Nicolas Jackson was in on goal after latching on to Moises Caicedo's excellent through ball, and the Senegalese forward slotted it past Caoimhin Kelleher.

However, Chelsea's momentum was short-lived as Curtis Jones regained the lead for Liverpool just three minutes later (51'). Mohamed Salah cut in from the right flank and produced a swirling cross into the box.

Jones found himself in plenty of space after a great run into the box. The English midfielder took a touch and found the back of the net, capping off a 2-1 victory for the Merseysiders.

Speaking after the game, Carragher was critical of Reece James's defending, blasting him for letting Jones run through unmarked. The Liverpool icon said (via football.london):

"It's so poor from Chelsea's point of view. Reece James does really poor. You see him in that position, he ambles away really. I don't think it is [rustiness], he can see him [Jones]. He's ambling across, he's two yards onside, his arms up - it's lazy defending."

Reece James made his first appearance of the season for the Blues at Anfield after recovering from a hamstring injury he suffered in pre-season. The England international was substituted in the second half for Renato Veiga.

James could not complete a single accurate cross in six attempts and lost two of his three duels.

"He's got to be all over that" - Jamie Carragher blasts another Chelsea star for conceding second goal against Liverpool

Given that James returned to action after a prolonged period on the sidelines, Carragher did cut him some slack, saying he may not have been fully fit.

The former England international called out another Chelsea star for his role in conceding the second goal against Liverpool. Carragher laid into goalkeeper Robert Sanchez for failing to intercept Curtis Jones.

The Liverpool midfielder's first touch after Salah's cross was rather poor as the ball got away from him. However, he still managed to nick it past Sanchez, who struggled to close him down quickly.

In the same interview, Carragher said:

"Maybe he's a little bit tired and it is that [for James] but I also think the goalkeeper is so far away. The fact the goalkeeper is trying to make a challenge two yards out. It's a poor touch from Curtis Jones really, he's at full stretch."

Advising the Blues to sign another goalkeeper, Carragher added:

"Reece James hasn't done well enough and it's really poor goalkeeping. Chelsea need a goalkeeper if they are going to challenge next season. As soon as Jones makes that poor touch, he's got to be all over that."