Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher was left embarrassed by his former club when they announced they would put some of their non-playing staff on the furlough scheme. Liverpool revealed on their website on Saturday some staff impacted by the Premier League suspension will be furloughed. The Merseyside club have since reversed their decision in a fresh statement on Monday evening.
Liverpool news: Jamie Carragher was left embarrassed by Liverpool's decision to furlough staff (Image: SKY SPORTS/GETTY)
"I was very angry when the decision came through.
"I'll tell you why I was angry because I think at this moment Liverpool are holders of the European Cup, top of the league, world champions.
"They tick so many boxes where people who are not Liverpool fans probably look at Liverpool now as some sort of model to try and replicate how they've gone about things, the manager and the club.
"And to get something so badly wrong, I could not believe it.
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"I don't think any football club should do what Liverpool did a couple of days ago. I was embarrassed as a Liverpool fan."
Tottenham, Newcastle and Norwich have also taken the decision to furlough some of their staff.
Carragher says he expected it from Tottenham and Newcastle but not from his old club.
He continued: "I know there were two clubs before Liverpool in Spurs and Newcastle - in some ways I didn't like what those clubs did but I expected it.
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"I think the football world expected it from Daniel Levy and Mike Ashley, if we're being totally honest, but not from Liverpool who build themselves up, certainly over the last few years under these owners, 'this means more'.
"The anthem of You'll Never Walk Alone, always looking back to Bill Shankly and socialist values.
"So I thought it was a shocking decision that they made.
"I am delighted now that they have changed their mind."
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Carragher still believes Liverpool's initial decision will leave a sour taste for some supporters.
The former England defender added: "I still think that will leave a bitter taste with a lot of Liverpool supporters because what this did was it saved the club a few million pounds, which was nothing, it cost the taxpayer a few million pounds, which in the grand scheme of things is not the biggest amount ever, but it embarrassed Liverpool's supporters throughout the country.
"Manchester United, Manchester City, Everton supporters, that's all I've been getting all the time now, almost laughing at Liverpool, and they've embarrassed themselves, embarrassed their own supporters.
"So I'm delighted they changed their mind, they had to change their mind, there's no doubt about that. I'm glad they saw sense.
"They've actually made mistakes before, Liverpool's owners in terms of ticket pricing, there was something where they tried to trademark Liverpool so local street sellers couldn't sell Liverpool FC gear and what they've always done these owners, when they've made a big mistake they pulled back on it."