Roy Keane has criticised Liverpool's players for lacking focus immediately after Ryan Gravenberch's red card against Manchester City. The Dutch midfielder was sent off for two yellow cards just after the hour mark, with City scoring three times in the following 16 minutes.
Doku changes the game
The introduction of Jeremy Doku ultimately changed the game, as he was the City player that Gravenberch brought down for his second caution. It was his cross that was fired home by Erling Haaland moments later, and then he picked out the top corner to grab the visitors' second.
Rayan Cherki then completed the blitz with a sensational goal, and in the space of less than one half of football, Andoni Iraola's side had been blown away. This prompted Keane to blast Liverpool for wallowing in self-pity and switching off at a crucial moment.
Keane's verdict on Liverpool's reaction
He said: "When you get a sending off, you start to feel sorry for yourself. Some of the Liverpool players are looking on the outside looking back in, you've got to get back in and then have your breather."
"You've got to get back that extra five or 10 yards, they're having a rest at the wrong time. We did say it was a worry they'd tire, then once the red card, they were feeling sorry for themselves for a few minutes, once that comes, it's three goals in 13 minutes. From what you do at this level, you can't have a breather."
Liverpool's injury woes and Cherki's brilliance
Liverpool headed into Sunday's clash with City missing key attackers Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak, both of whom sustained injuries during the international break. Victor Munoz and Lewis Koumas stepped in as replacements, each putting in an impressive shift for the Reds. Gravenberch delivered his finest performance since Iraola took charge, though his dismissal drew widespread criticism following a contentious first yellow card.
Jeremie Frimpong found himself in Jamie Carragher's firing line for his part in the third goal, after being sat down by Cherki, who slid beyond Alisson. He said: "Absolute quality since he (Cherki) come into the squad, what a goal that is. The less said about Frimpong the better, he is all over the place, wow."
However, Neville leapt to Frimpong's defence, saying: "I have to say Carra, I've been a right-back, that is doing me and many more, the drag back is absolutely sensational from Cherki."
Though Neville was heaping praise on Cherki, Elliot Anderson and several others, he found it challenging to really be in awe of such a display away from home as it could ultimately mean nothing at the end of the season if their appeal against being in breach of 114 financial charges fails.
"We were just doing the podcast then and said if you could take me off Manchester City games moving forward for the next few months until the verdicts have been heard, I would be absolutely delighted. To come and win at Anfield is really difficult, we should be eulogising over them without a but or any hesitation, but there is that thing in the back of your mind."
"They have done a brilliant job here today. They have dominated the game in the last 20 minutes, from the red card onwards. They have dug in and I think players like [Gianluigi] Donnarumma, [Ruben] Dias and Anderson, in that first-half were excellent. They stood strong as a group."
"At the end of the game it is quite hard because you are imagining basically if these guilty verdicts are confirmed in January or February then Manchester City are not going to be in the position they are in and there is going to be a huge cloud hanging over the whole league, which is not good for the Premier League right now and that is what I have just recognised today. Really bad for the Premier League and it is going to continue for a few months."
