Jurgen Klopp has been criticised for overlooking Dejan Lovren (Picture: Getty)

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has criticised manager Jurgen Klopp for not picking Dejan Lovren in defence for today’s defeat at Manchester City.

The former Reds defender believes it was a mistake selecting a player of Ragnar Klavan’s calibre, with the Estonian emerging as a weak link at the back today.

City ran out 5-0 winners against Liverpool in the end, and Carragher was not impressed either with Klopp overlooking Lovren when changing to a back three later in the game.

Emre Can instead moved from midfield into defence, and the Sky Sports pundit questioned some of the manager’s decisions in that department.

Lovren was only on the bench for Liverpool today (Picture: Getty)
Ragnar Klavan was selected over Lovren in defence (Picture: Getty)

‘At only one down you shouldn’t see what we saw there,’ Carragher said after the game.

‘Klopp made a change because City’s front two were causing a problem, so I get why he went to a three (at the back).

‘But it didn’t work. Can struggled in the back three and didn’t look solid at all.

‘I know Lovren wasn’t 100% but as a centre-back you need to play 40/50 games a season you’ve got to go out and play. You’re not going to be 100% fit all the time.

Emre Can was also moved alongside Joel Matip at the back (Picture: Getty)
Klopp’s side suffered a humiliating 5-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium (Picture: Getty)

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‘Klavan is not at the level of the other two and it’s not a fight to get into the team. I don’t agree with that decision to pick him.’

Liverpool have already let in eight goals this season, with Klopp failing to sign his top defensive target Virgil van Dijk during the summer transfer window.

The Southampton star continues to be linked with the club ahead of January, but many will now be questioning why Klopp couldn’t find an alternative target as the Saints repeatedly insisted they would not sell.

MORE : Referee Jon Moss blanks Jurgen Klopp at full-time after Liverpool defeat to City