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‘That was NOT heavy metal football, that was like bass guitar!’: Gary Neville says Liverpool lacked ‘energy and appetite’ in Arsenal defeat – stressing that Jürgen Klopp’s side looks ‘a shadow of itself’
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Gary Neville says Liverpool fans, players and coaches should be ‘concerned’ about their defeat to Arsenal over the weekend.
Jurgen Klopp’s side was pushed aside by top-ranking Gunners in a 3-2 defeat and the former Manchester United full-back thinks there were ‘troubling signs’ for everyone.
With last season’s Champions League finalists reeling just four points above the drop zone, Neville was quick to suggest the Reds are “two or three yards” from where they were last year.
Gary Neville suggested Liverpool fans, players and coaches should be ‘concerned’
The Reds were swept away against Arsenal after a ‘listless’ second half performance
Arsenal continued their brilliant form as they handed Liverpool a second loss of the season
Talk about his podcast after the game Neville said: ‘For Liverpool, is this a blip or is this a bit of a setback in terms of how they are at the moment?
“In the first half I thought they responded very well to an electric start. But I thought that second half was worrying for Liverpool. They looked like a shadow of themselves.
“Overall, their second half performance will be a concern for Jurgen Klopp – not just their performance on the ball and how they played, but also off the ball, their ability to get to the ball and press, and torment .’
The Reds trailed 2-1 at halftime after goals from Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli. Roberto Firmino leveled the visitors within 10 minutes of the restart, but Liverpool were swept away from there.
Arsenal bombed their attacks down the flanks and finally found a breakthrough after Gabriel Jesus was knocked down by Diogo Jota in the penalty area. Saka stepped up to convert and slammed his attempt past Alisson.
Liverpool were level in the second half before Arsenal ramped up the intensity in the match
Bukayo Saka shot in a match-winning penalty in the second half, giving Arsenal the lead
Neville continued: ‘We knew that Jurgen Klopp came to this country with heavy metal football as a starting point and principle, but that wasn’t heavy metal football (against Arsenal), that was like bass guitar.
“They were very, very lethargic in the second half. I would be concerned if I were a Liverpool fan, coach or player in that second half.
“It’s the energy and the appetite in the games that they’ve had in terms of defending and pressing (that was the problem) over the past few years.
“They look two or three meters, and two or three meters in football is everything. When you’re one meter away from a world-class player, that’s too much.”
Jurgen Klopp’s side are 10th after taking just two wins in the Premier League this year
The Reds have struggled seriously for form this season and have been without a win in the Premier League since their 2-1 win over Newcastle in August.
Klopp’s side, who finished second last season and reached the Champions League final in May, is only four points above the relegation zone.
After a trip to Rangers in Europe on Wednesday, Liverpool will return to Premier League action when they host Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City on Sunday.