Jamie Carragher believes Manchester City supporters jinxed Pep Guardiola's side before their 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid. City fans displayed a big banner that depicted Rodri kissing the Ballon d'Or trophy, accompanied by the phrase "Stop Crying Your Heart Out" from the classic Oasis song.

The display alluded to Madrid's boycott of the Ballon d'Or ceremony last December after learning Vinicius Jr would not win the award. However, the forward responded by assisting Madrid's second and third goals to complete their late comeback, earning him the Player of the Match award.

Liverpool fans know all too well about surrendering a lead to Madrid. Two years ago this month, the Reds lost 5-2 at Anfield after taking an early two-goal advantage.

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Carragher, however, played in the last Liverpool team to win a knockout round tie against the Spanish side, which the Reds won 5-0 on aggregate. Sixteen years on, the club's former vice-captain took umbrage with what the City fans did pre-match.

"It's absolutely ridiculous," Carragher said on CBS' Champions League knockout phase play-offs coverage. "Why would you do that? I know they're having a laugh and a joke. What do you gain from that? Even if it's the fans."

Carragher continued to question the move: "Why? Why annoy people? Why wind someone up? Do it at the end of the game if you've beaten them and knocked them out.

"Why are you getting involved in that? I don't know what you get out of it. What do you gain out of that?" It's not funny tonight, is it? That'll be all over the Madrid press. You've just got beat."

Carragher then claimed: "Say, Steven Gerrard had won the Ballon d'Or, and we were coming out, and we were playing Real Madrid, and he'd beaten one of their players; that'd annoy me if I were a Liverpool player, thinking, 'what?' Just, it's like a jinx."