Ex-Man Utd ace makes two big statements on rivals Liverpool, sticks boot in on glaring weakness

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We’ve seen all the memes and Twitter jokes, but Phil Neville has essentially said what we’re all thinking about Liverpool again this season.

Jurgen Klopp’s side are fifth in the Premier League table and look set to advance to the knockout stage of the Champions League, but they haven’t entirely convinced.

That doesn’t apply to the entire team though, as the same weakness that was heavily criticised last season is still their issue now, and that’s their defence.

Liverpool have conceded 17 goals in 12 league games, 11 more than Man Utd who boast the best defensive record in the league, while their failings were exposed in midweek as they squandered a 3-0 lead at Sevilla.

In turn, while Neville was full of praise for their attacking players, notably summer signing Mohamed Salah who has scored 14 goals and provided four assists in 19 appearances, he doesn’t rate their defence in the slightest.

“The front six could win the Premier League,” he is quoted as saying by The Express. “But the four defenders and the goalkeeper are probably the bottom, relegation type team. It is a team divided into two.

“Brilliant going forward with exciting players, Salah is probably the signing of the season. But in defence I just despair sometimes.”

Liverpool fans probably won’t appreciate the comments given they’re coming from an ex-Man Utd player, but he arguably hits the nail on the head.

If Klopp wants to usher in a new era of success at Anfield, he has to find the balance between the two and over the course of a long season, and against tougher opposition in Europe in particular, Liverpool could get found out and it will prove to be costly.

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