Jamie Carragher took aim at Trevoh Chalobah, Malo Gusto and Filip Jorgensen for their part in Kaoru Mitoma’s stunning opener for Brighton against Chelsea.
The opening stages of first half proved cagey but Mitoma brought the Premier League contest to life with an exquisite strike to break the deadlock in the 27th minute.
Chelsea’s scrambling defenders failed to deal with Bart Verbruggen’s searching goal kick and the Japan winger capitalised in some style, taking the ball down with an astonishing first touch before finding the corner of Filip Jorgensen’s net.
Just ten minutes later, the Seagulls had a second through Yankuba Minteh, who beat Jorgensen with a controlled effort to send the Amex Stadium into raptures after some fine play between Georginio Rutter and Danny Welbeck.
‘I cannot believe that first touch,’ ex-Liverpool defender Carragher said while analysing Mitoma’s wondergoal.
‘I said before the game out on the pitch that I couldn’t wait to see Mitoma and Cole Palmer.
‘They’re almost two throwbacks really, teams are so organised now.’
Watching back Mitoma’s extraordinary first touch, a dumbfounded Carragher added: ‘What is that?! Oh, wow.
‘Wow, look at that… that’s [Lionel]-Messi like.’
‘That’s one of the best goals we’ve seen this season.’
After a few moments had passed, Carragher took aim at the questionable positioning of Chalobah and Gusto for Mitoma’s strike.
The former England centre-back also questioned the role of Jorgensen, who was once again given the nod ahead of Robert Sanchez by Enzo Maresca.
‘When I was looking back at the goal, I didn’t want to take anything away from the finish,’ Carragher added.
‘Tariq Lamptey just makes Gusto go a little bit wider and it means Mitoma gets in between Chalobah and Gusto, just allows him to bring it down.
‘Nobody is really tight enough to him initially.
‘It’s not what you’d say is a mistake by the goalkeeper but it’s the type of save the Liverpool goalkeeper or the Arsenal goalkeeper would make and keep it out.’
More to follow.
