‘Stupid, Absolutely Ridiculous’ – Jamie Carragher annihilates one West Ham player v Liverpool
Jamie Carragher launched a scathing attack on Edson Alvarez following the West Ham midfielder’s reckless sending-off during the Hammers’ 5-1 defeat to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night. Alvarez’s dismissal came at a pivotal moment, with the 26-year-old receiving a second yellow card for a rash sliding challenge on Mohamed Salah in the 77th minute. Just 11 minutes earlier, he had already been booked for a similar reckless tackle on Liverpool’s left-back Kostas Tsimikas. The red card not only disrupted West Ham’s growing momentum but also sealed their fate in a match where they had shown signs of a potential comeback.
At the time of Alvarez’s red card, West Ham were trailing 3-1, but they had been pressing hard and looked like they might be able to reduce the deficit. Their second-half performance, particularly after Michail Antonio’s introduction, had reinvigorated the team, and there was a sense that a comeback, though difficult, wasn’t entirely impossible. However, Alvarez’s poor decision-making proved to be a turning point. His reckless tackle on Salah, when the Egyptian forward was surrounded by multiple defenders, resulted in his dismissal and effectively ended any remaining hopes West Ham had of salvaging the game.
Carragher, speaking on *Sky Sports Main Event* shortly after the red card (25 September, 9:32 pm), was highly critical of Alvarez’s judgment. “West Ham were so close to getting a goal – and they probably deserved one in the second half,” Carragher said. “But that was a really stupid decision when you’re already on a yellow card. There were two or three players around Mo Salah; it wasn’t a desperate, last-ditch situation where that tackle needed to be made.” Carragher’s frustration was clear as he elaborated on how Alvarez’s actions had effectively handed the game to Liverpool. “That tackle took the game away from West Ham, leaving them down to 10 men and killing any chance of a fightback.”
As the game progressed and the ramifications of the red card became clearer, Carragher didn’t hold back in his continued criticism of Alvarez. At 9:50 pm, the former Liverpool defender called the sending-off “absolutely ridiculous,” emphasizing that Alvarez had needlessly jeopardized his team’s efforts and handed the initiative to their opponents. West Ham had been showing resilience and determination, but with the numerical disadvantage, they were left helpless against a Liverpool side that capitalized on the situation and extended their lead.
Alvarez’s red card not only impacted the immediate outcome of the match but also left West Ham with a bigger problem as he will now miss their upcoming Premier League clash against Brentford. His suspension could be a significant blow, especially with West Ham struggling to find consistency in the early part of the season. The defeat to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup means that the Hammers’ hopes of a domestic cup run have taken a hit, and with Alvarez sidelined for their next league match, the pressure on West Ham and their manager Julen Lopetegui is set to intensify.
For a team like West Ham, the Carabao Cup represents one of their best chances to secure silverware, especially given the unpredictable nature of the competition. With their exit from the tournament, questions are beginning to mount over the direction of their season. Many had tipped West Ham as one of the winners of the summer transfer window, with a host of promising signings expected to bolster their squad. However, the early weeks of the 2024/25 campaign have been anything but smooth for the Hammers. Inconsistent performances, combined with moments of indiscipline like Alvarez’s red card, have left Lopetegui facing mounting criticism. The loss to Liverpool was a stark reminder of how quickly things can unravel, even after a seemingly successful transfer window.
At 3-1 down, with just over 10 minutes left to play, West Ham were still very much in the contest, and the introduction of Michail Antonio in the second half had given them a renewed sense of purpose. Antonio’s physical presence and attacking threat started to trouble Liverpool’s defense, and it looked as though the Hammers could pull themselves back into the game. But Alvarez’s mindless lunge on Salah destroyed any hope of a West Ham revival, turning what could have been a respectable defeat or even a close contest into an embarrassing collapse. The final scoreline of 5-1 not only reflected the dominance of Liverpool but also the self-inflicted wounds that West Ham had suffered, particularly through Alvarez’s reckless play.
Alvarez’s absence from the Brentford match now raises further questions about his future role in the team. While his red card means he will be forced to sit out the fixture, there is growing speculation that even if he were available, Lopetegui might have chosen to bench him. Alvarez has struggled to hit top form since joining West Ham, and his performances have been inconsistent, with moments of brilliance overshadowed by lapses in discipline and concentration. His red card against Liverpool could be seen as the culmination of a difficult start to life in East London, and it remains to be seen how he will respond to this setback.
For Lopetegui, the challenges are piling up. After a summer that many had hailed as a turning point for West Ham, the team’s struggles in the early weeks of the season have led to growing discontent among the fanbase. The Carabao Cup was seen as a realistic opportunity for success, particularly given the unpredictable nature of the tournament and the fact that many of the top teams often field weaker lineups in the early rounds. But with West Ham’s exit from the competition, the focus will now shift to their Premier League campaign, where they will need to find consistency if they are to avoid slipping further down the table.
Alvarez’s red card is just the latest in a series of setbacks for West Ham, but it is a moment that could have lasting consequences. Not only will they be without one of their key players for the Brentford match, but the psychological impact of such a heavy defeat could linger as they look to bounce back in the league. With the pressure mounting on Lopetegui and his squad, West Ham will need to regroup quickly and find a way to get their season back on track. Whether Alvarez can redeem himself and play a key role in that recovery remains to be seen, but for now, he’ll have to watch from the sidelines as his team faces their next challenge without him.