Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Liverpool news: Rio Ferdinand singles out one player in his criticism vs Bayern Munich
RIO FERDINAND singled out one Liverpool player for criticism during Tuesday’s clash against Bayern Munich.
Liverpool need ‘confidence’ to go to next round says Ferdinand
Ferdinand was working as a pundit for the Champions League last-16 first leg match at Anfield.
The game was goalless at half time but both sides had chances to open the scoring.
Bayern Munich started the better side and caused some nervy moments in the Liverpool defence.
Ferdinand says Bayern surprised the hosts by preventing them from playing out from the back.
Alisson has been very lax with the ball, giving up possession very easily and putting his team under pressure at times
And he laid blame at Reds goalkeeper Alisson for a number of hairy moments in the opening 45.
“I think they took the game away from Liverpool at the beginning,” Ferdinand said on BT Sport.
“Liverpool normally come out of the blocks fast.
“They would have said in the changing room ‘let’s start this game fast, let’s get amongst this Bayern Munich team’ - they weren’t allowed to.
“Neuer was dictating things from the back and at times when they had the ball themselves Liverpool, they played themselves into problems.
“Alisson has been very lax with the ball, giving up possession very easily and putting his team under pressure at times.
“This has been a very different performance and intensity from Liverpool that we normally see because Bayern Munich have dictated that.
“I have to say they have defended well, the professionalism, the experience they’ve used, keeping the full-backs in, the manager’s played a masterclass in that.
“In the games we’ve seen previously, these Bayern full-backs normally play high up the pitch.
“They know where they are, they’re at Anfield, they know that space and speed will kill them here.”
The game remained goalless meaning Bayern failed to score an away goal to take back to the Allianz Arena.
Bayern's Joshua Kimmich will miss the second leg through suspension.