Former Manchester United player and now Sky Sports pundit, Roy Keane, has launched a scathing attack on the Liverpool team following their 4-1 defeat to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City last night.
Liverpool on, Sunday night, suffered their third consecutive home defeat against the current table toppers following their losses to Burnley and Brighton in the Premier League.
Two goals from Ilkay Gundogan and a goal each from Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden help down the reigning champions whose boss had indicated were suffering from a mental fatigue last week.
Speaking after the game, Roy Keane did not hold back on his criticism of the Liverpool team, labelling them as bad champions and warned that they stand the risk of not winning the Premier league for another 30 years if they continue ‘playing like this’.
“For me, they are bad champions,” said Roy Keane. “You could say that this is a one-off, it’s a freak season, it’s Corona. Just get on with it. You’re the champions, you’re Liverpool Football Club.
“Keeping performing like that and it will be another 30 years before you win the title.”
Klopp: ‘Top four now the priority’
Jürgen Klopp in his post match conference also admitted that their title defense might be out of reach and their focus will now have to turn to securing a top four spot for next season’s champions league.
The defeat against Manchester City extended the points between themselves and the Citizens to 10 while other clubs are closing up speedily.
Chelsea who have amassed 10 points out of their last 12 since the appointment of Thomas Tuchel are now a point behind Liverpool just as West Ham United.
Everton, Aston Villa and Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspurs are also among the teams hunting and fighting for a top four spot in the Premier League.
“That is of course our main target, that is clear,” Klopp said when asked about a top-four finish. “We will try everything.
“There is enough games to play to secure that – but we have to win games and tonight we didn’t.”
Klopp also commented on Alisson Becker’s role in the goals scored by Ilkay Gundogan and Raheem Sterling, sating:
“It’s two [instances] where we didn’t give him a lot of options, especially around the first one. I think the second one, yeah, he just mis-hit the ball.
“I don’t know, it’s not a real explanation for it but maybe he had cold feet or something. It sounds funny but could be. But there’s still the opportunity to kick it in the stands.
“But Ali has saved our life plenty of times, no doubt about that, and tonight he made two mistakes and that’s how it is.”
Liverpool have a week to prepare for their next premier league action against Leicester City on Saturday as they are no longer part of the FA cup following their elimination at the hands of Manchester United in the 4th round.
