Jamie Carragher slams Liverpool star for 'embarrassing' play-acting in defeat to Aston Villa

Jamie Carragher has slammed Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister for an "embarrassing" piece of play-acting in his side's defeat to Aston Villa.

The Argentine theatrically threw himself to the ground, holding his face when Ezri Konsa grabbed his shirt.

Carragher showed no sympathy for the Argentine, saying on Sky Sports: "He does that every game. Embarrassing.

"Get him up. I'd be embarrassed if they sent Konsa off for that. This result does nothing for the feeling of supporters about his position now."

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The incident unfolded as Liverpool were chasing Villa's 2-1 advantage, with Mac Allister appearing to initiate contact by shoving Konsa before the England defender responded by grabbing at his shirt and briefly touching his face.

Despite the minimal force involved, the Argentine midfielder dropped backwards onto the turf, clutching his nose as though he had suffered a significant blow.

VAR officials reviewed the footage for potential violent conduct but ultimately cleared Konsa of any wrongdoing.

Footage from the touchline suggested even Mac Allister's own manager, Arne Slot, was gesturing for his player to get up from the ground.

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Captain Virgil van Dijk also attempted to pull his teammate back to his feet as other players gathered around the stricken midfielder.

Carragher's criticism extended far beyond Mac Allister's play-acting, with the pundit delivering a damning verdict on Liverpool's entire squad shortly before the final whistle confirmed their defeat.

He said: "Far too many weak, physically and mentally players, he's the man that is going to be asked to fix it Arne Slot."

Morgan Rogers had given the hosts the lead in the first half with an expertly placed finish before Van Dijk's header shortly after the interval brought Liverpool level at 1-1.

Just five minutes later though, Ollie Watkins got his first of the game, pouncing on a slip by Dominik Szoboszlai.

He then got on the end of a rebound from Pau Torres' close-range effort, to give the Villians a cushion with just shy of 20 minutes of normal time to play.

John McGinn made it four, with a worldy of a curler into the top left corner, as the Scotsman continues his incredible scoring ways.

Van Dijk pulled one back in extra time as a consolation for Slot's side, who will be keeping a sharp eye on Bournemouth's contest against Manchester City on May 19, with the Cherries having an outside chance of sneaking into the top five.

Speaking after the game, when asked how it was to suffer another defeat, Slot said: "It's frustrating because as a manager you're also responsible for if things happen time and time again.

"You are hired to try to prevent that for the next time.

"We scored two set-pieces over here, so usually you think if you go to an away game or any game where you score two set-pieces, usually you're quite sure of a result - unless you concede three set-pieces, what we did."

Liverpool ends their campaign next weekend with a home tie against a European-chasing Brentford.

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