Jamie Carragher has criticised former club Liverpool for 'playing like children' in their 3-3 Champions League draw with Sevilla on Tuesday night.

The Reds let a three-goal lead slip at the Juan Sanchez Pizjuan to leave their Group E hopes hanging in the balance with one round of fixtures left to play.

Not for the first time this season, Liverpool's defensive unit came under fire at full time, with Carragher - a club stalwart with more than 700 appearances under his belt - among those to hit out at their inability to see things through.

"Well it was a shambles, and thankfully I'm not allowed to swear also, because I'd like to swear when I see that second half," he told Viasport. "The big question going into this game was could Liverpool's defence cope with the atmosphere and the players of Sevilla – we know they have a great record.

"And I felt before the game the answer would be 'no', but I didn't think it would be as bad as this, especially in the second half. I didn't see Liverpool keeping a clean sheet, but to be 3-0 up and to seeing how Liverpool gave the goals away, and the actual game intelligence, it was like watching children play. At Sevilla, you have to quieten the crowd.

"Liverpool did that by scoring goals in the first half. In the second half Sevilla came flying out, [Liverpool were] giving stupid free-kicks away that lift the crowd, lift the players, get the referee giving yellow cards. And that's what Liverpool continually did.

"Two of the goals came from set-pieces, and another from a foul they give away in the box from Alberto Moreno. It's unbelievable to see a decision like that from a player at Champions League level. It was like watching children in the second half."

Liverpool now require a point at home to Spartak Moscow to make certain of a place in the last 16.