A host of Anfield legends have blasted Alberto Moreno following Liverpool’s 3-1 Europa League final defeat against Sevilla.
The Reds led 1-0 at the interval thanks to Daniel Sturridge’s excellent opener, but were undermined by a series of Moreno errors early in the second period that turned the game in the Spanish side’s favour.
Seville-born Moreno was deemed partially culpable for both Kevin Gameiro’s equaliser and Coke’s decisive third goal, as Jurgen Klopp’s men slumped to defeat.
And a number of high-profile former Reds, including Steve McManaman, Michael Owen and Mark Lawrenson were quick to put the boot into the under-fire Liverpool full-back.
Analysing Moreno’s defending for the La Liga side’s leveller, BT Sport pundit and ex-Liverpool striker Michael Owen said: “He’s a left back and that’s a shocking header, you should head it high and where you are facing, so it’s a bad header to begin with.
Then he comes flying in… It starts with Moreno and the second mistake again is Moreno.”
Fellow BT analyst, Steve McManaman- a distinguished member of Liverpool’s FA Cup winning side of 1991-92- also reserved scorn for the 23-year-old’s play.
“He’s [Moreno] picked out Mariano with a perfect header and, as I say, the challenge was atrocious,” he added.
Meanwhile, Lawrenson, five-times winner of the English Football League with the Reds, suggested that Moreno’s defensive game is hugely flawed at the top level.
He told BBC Sport: “At 1-0 up at half-time you have to manage the game which Liverpool failed to do.
“We have seen it so many times over the course of the season, the left back Moreno is good at getting forward but he cannot defend.”