Ex-Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson has said that the Reds side which scraped past Carlisle United in the League Cup on Wednesday night looked like a group of people "who had just met each other in the car park".

Derek Asamoah cancelled out Danny Ings's opener as Brendan Rodgers's team failed to beat the lowest-ranked club in round three after 120 minutes, only edging into the fourth round with victory in a penalty shootout.

Lawrenson called the performance "unacceptable" as the Premier League side failed to break down the League Two club and added that the team lacks the character necessary to succeed.

"[There was] no rhyme, no reason, no pattern of play," he told BBC Sport. "Liverpool had 40-odd shots and most of them were from outside the box. Carlisle, middle of League Two, kept them at arm's length.

"It was very samey. You are looking and thinking 'what the hell is happening here?' The performance was unacceptable, it lacked cohesion. The team seriously lacks character. Too many players have too many touches on the ball and everyone is trying to do things in a really nice, pretty way.

"Win the football match. It doesn't matter how you play but at times Liverpool played like a collection of people who had just met each other in the car park before the game."

Liverpool, who had failed to win in five matches before coming out on top on spot kicks, are just 13th in the Premier League table ahead of hosting Aston Villa on Saturday.