JAMIE REDKNAPP has slammed Liverpool for their “staggering” seven-minute delay in substituting Joe Gomez against Bournemouth.
The Reds slumped to a 3-2 defeat at the Vitality Stadium despite battling back from two goals down.
Amine Adli netted in the 95th minute to keep all three points on the South Coast.
But it was Alex Jimenez’s goal that made it 2-0 that Liverpool will be wishing they acted quicker on.
It followed Evanilson’s opener in the 26th minute, in which Gomez hurt himself trying to block the ball as he collided with Alisson Becker.
Manager Arne Slot wanted to replace Gomez with Wataru Endo who was readied while the defender was off the pitch.
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However, Liverpool continued to play on while down to ten men for seven minutes despite having chances to kick the ball out of play.
Midfielder Ryan Gravenberch dropped into the backline alongside Virgil van Dijk during Gomez’s absence.
The decision proved costly as Jimenez converted his chance after being played through by James Hill in the 33rd minute.
Former Liverpool star Redknapp was left fuming at the “amateurish” thought process of the players.
He said on Sky Sports: “You can see it’s a nasty injury (to Joe Gomez), you give him maybe a minute or two, then you try to make a substitution.
“This took seven minutes before Liverpool decided to make a substitution.
“Then they obviously ended up conceding that second goal.
“I find it staggering in this day and age that you’re going to have a situation like that.
“We’ve gone through (the footage) a few times because we want to check and give Liverpool the benefit of the doubt.
“(To check) have they got an opportunity to kick it out? Has there been a free kick? Has the manager spoken to the players and made this a priority for everyone?
“Because I don’t just want to criticise the manager or backroom staff.
“Sometimes you as a player you take responsibility. You realise you’ve got ten men.
“Gravenberch has dropped into the back four, (so you think): ‘What can we do about this?’
“Nobody was saying, let’s get the ball out of play, let’s get a centre back on. They don’t take the opportunity.”
Redknapp did put some blame on Slot and his team for not prioritising getting Endo on rather than giving him instructions.
He added: “Arne Slot is telling his players to get the ball out of play while someone is giving (Endo) instructions.
“Just get him on the pitch. It’s of paramount importance that you get him (Endo) on. Get your kit off and get on the pitch, mate.
“I used the words amateurs at half-time. It’s not good enough.
“Endo should have been on the pitch four minutes earlier. If he was on, the goal doesn’t happen.”
After the game, Van Dijk made his thoughts known that he believed that the Cherries’ winning goal should not of counted.
He believed that he was fouled in the build-up to Adli’s dagger strike late on.
He said: “What I felt on that pitch is that I was blocked but the referee and VAR didn’t give it.
“I can stand here and say it shouldn’t have been given but it was, so it is what it is.”
However, replays showed that the Dutchman was actually caught by team-mate Curtis Jones.
The defeat has left the reigning champions seven points off third-placed Aston Villa and within range of both Manchester United, Chelsea, Brentford and Newcastle.
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