Jamie Carragher Slams Liverpool Defender for ‘Ridiculous’ First-Half Dive Against Burnley

Jamie Carragher was visibly frustrated with one Liverpool player after a moment he called “absolutely stupid” during the first half of today’s match against Burnley. Despite dominating possession, the Reds struggled to break down a disciplined Clarets side, who posed a threat on the counter-attack.

Just past the 20-minute mark, Milos Kerkez went down near the byline, prompting shouts for a penalty from the visiting fans at Turf Moor. However, referee Michael Oliver wasn’t convinced and instead awarded Burnley a free kick, booking the Hungarian full-back for simulation.

Carragher Criticises Kerkez for Dive

Replays confirmed that Kerkez went to ground far too easily, leading Carragher – on Sky Sports commentary (14:23) – to voice his disapproval. “It was a dive. No question about it. That’s absolutely stupid. Credit to the referee,” the former Liverpool defender said.

Kerkez was substituted before half-time, lasting less than 40 minutes in the match.

Disappointing Moment from an Otherwise Talented Player

Kerkez, who recently impressed in the 1-0 win over Arsenal with a solid performance against Noni Madueke, let himself down with the dive. While he’s normally a reliable and energetic presence on the left flank, his simulation was rightly punished by Oliver, who issued a yellow card on the spot.

The 21-year-old’s early booking put him in a risky position, prompting manager Arne Slot to take him off before the break, replacing him with Andy Robertson.

Kerkez has the potential to be a key asset for Liverpool, offering attacking drive and tenacity down the wing. However, moments like this undermine his progress. Hopefully, he learns from this incident — after all, he’d be furious if an opposing player tried the same trick in Liverpool’s box.