What surprised me the most is how you made it sounds like Carrick gave the ball away many times but he actually only gave the ball away once. His three unsuccessful passes were gave the ball away once, one of his forward pass was being intercepted and the other one is his attempt to make a long ball failed due to too much power and pace. Carrick did keep the possession. He was just being nullified that's all. Couldn't do much just like Pirlo (in my opinion).
To quote my self
"Pirlo did not constantly losing the ball to Park. Same with Carrick giving the ball away in L'pool game. Difference..."
Do you understand with "same with". Let me spell it out for you: "Carrick didn't give the ball away that much in L'pool game". So the first two sentences are in agreement. The difference starts with third sentences.
We can agree to disagree on your assessment on Pirlo. I already explained my view. I won't repeat. I respect your opinion so no point into repeat it again.
Edit: this is not toward you, just don't feel like making a separate post.
Before the possession based football trend which favors safe passing, play makers take risk and kinda wasteful in possession. See Veron
Pirlo is not master of possession football neither. He takes plenty of risk. I never understand why people often mistake him into a Carrick, Alonso, Busquet... even Xavi kind of player. He's a deep play maker which quite some players also claim the description but his style is distinctive. He takes risk with dribble, long pass, no look pass... and don't hide from taking risk. He's not particular as good in defensive aspect of his game compare to other so would require a defensive specialist partner to chip in and help. Anyways, point is if using lower pass completion to base any of Pirlo's individual performance, then it's very misleading and would give false reading.