Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren affected the performances of both Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold at Watford.
The Reds suffered their first Premier League defeat of the season at Vicarage Road and Lovren received fierce criticism for his performance.
Jurgen Klopp has since launched an impassioned defence of his player but former defender Carragher says the Croatian centre-back had an impact on those around him.
"A lot of fingers were pointed at the fact he played Dejan Lovren ahead Joel Matip," he told the ECHO.
"I think he'd be thinking about set pieces there and Watford having the aerial threat where Lovren is better.
"I'm not saying I would have done it but I understand where he was coming from and the thinking.
"Lovren didn't have a great game coming in and I think that affected everyone around him, so I don't think Trent or Virgil van Dijk were at their best."
Carragher also explained that Liverpool won't be worried about the defeat but Klopp will be thinking about the way in which they were put to the sword by struggling Watford.
"I don't think anyone saw it coming," he added.
"The unbeaten run would have been amazing and it's so difficult to do, which is why Arsenal fans are delighted and rightly so - it's something special to their club.
"It was always going to be tough but the big worry is not the result, but more the performance that will worry Jurgen Klopp. Not in terms of the league because that's won but certainly the Champions League.
"Liverpool need to kick into gear in the second leg, it's going to be really tough against Atletico Madrid.
"The fact Liverpool have started leaking goals, they need to keep a clean sheet in that game if they want to go through. That will be the worry at the moment."
