Carragher warns Van Dijk and Liverpool’s new high-line defence ‘face major problems’ against Arsenal

JAMIE CARRAGHER is worried that Liverpool's defence could get found out by the pace of Arsenal's attack when they face off on Saturday afternoon.

Both teams will come to Anfield with a perfect record of two wins from two so far in the Premier League this season but Carragher reckons the Reds have been far from immaculate.

The former Liverpool centre-back believes Jurgen Klopp's men are vulnerable to being sliced open by top-level attackers.

Carragher said on Monday Night Football: "With the quality Arsenal have, if Liverpool get themselves in those positions and don't run back, they're going to have major problems within that game.

";On the counter-attack as well, with Liverpool higher up the pitch, Arsenal could cause big problems, I have no doubt about that.

"The chances and the shots on goal that they are allowing at the moment, better quality teams and strikers will make Liverpool pay."

He added: "But now Liverpool are playing offside and I don't like it.

"I think they've been lucky and fortunate at a number of different times this season to get away with it."

The Reds were 10th in terms of catching teams offside last season but already top of the table with nine in their opening two fixtures against Norwich and Southampton.

But last year's most miserly defence have also failed to keep a clean sheet so far this time around and Carragher believes it is linked to a change in policy at the club.

The Sky Sports pundit said: "When I was a kid coming through, there was something said to us as young players at Liverpool which was 'we don't play offside, they run offside'.

"The point Ronnie Moran [former Liverpool captain and coach] was making was that if someone makes a stupid early run, we stay where we are, we're confident enough. If someone makes a good run and it's tight, you go with them.

"We didn't stand still, play offside and not move."

Liverpool were praised for their defence on the way to second place in the Premier League and a Champions League triumph last season.

Virgil van Dijk was the first defender in 14 years to win the PFA Player of the Year award and was joined by two other Liverpool defenders - Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson - in the Team of the Year.

However, Carragher believes their 4-1 win over Norwich on the opening day papered over some cracks and that Klopp should be concerned by their defensive shape.

Carragher said: "Against Norwich, early on there were a few chances for them. There was one instance where Norwich played the ball in behind and Joe Gomez goes to run [back and cover] immediately. Van Dijk is trying to play Pukki offside. He waits, and then he goes.

"They got away with it but I'm seeing it too often. The pace they've got, they back themselves to get there.

"In the second half, it was [Joe] Gomez. The Norwich player is about to play the ball, Pukki is going forward and Gomez, as soon as he sees all that, should be getting on his bike to be going the other way.

"People always say 'as soon as someone's got time on the ball you've got to drop off'. I don't believe you do. You've got to be ready though to get back.

"Second half, Pukki was ready but Gomez was upright, almost holding that line, and that's when they didn't get away with it."

Liverpool face Arsenal at Anfield on Saturday, kicking off at 5.30pm.