Gary Neville criticised Virgil van Dijk as Liverpool suffered a ‘really worrying’ defeat to Premier League title rivals Manchester City.
It was suggested that Liverpool had not only stopped the rot but turned a corner as they beat Aston Villa and Real Madrid of their last two games.
But Arne Slot’s side were brought crashing back all the way down to earth as they were thumped 3-0 by Man City on the Etihad Stadium.
Erling Haaland headed the hosts in front – shortly after having a penalty saved by Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili – before Nicolas Gonzalez doubled City’s lead on the stroke of half-time.
Man City’s second was a very bitter blow for Liverpool because it got here shortly after they thought that they had equalised, just for Van Dijk’s header to be ruled out for a controversial offside decision.
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Van Dijk’s powerful head was chalked off as Andy Robertson, clearly standing in an offside position, was adjudged to be impacting play in front of Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Liverpool improved after the break but Jeremy Doku effectively put the sport to bed when he superbly curled home City’s third on the hour mark.
While Manchester City climb to second within the Premier League – 4 points behind early pacesetters Arsenal – a humbling defeat leaves defending champions Liverpool eighth, eight points off the highest.
Eight-time Premier League winner Neville described Liverpool’s performance on the Etihad Stadium as ‘really worrying’ and was baffled by Van Dijk’s role in Man City’s second goal.
Gonzalez’s long-range strike took a nick off a stationary Van Dijk before flying past a helpless Mamardashvili within the Liverpool goal.
‘It’s a very worrying performance for Liverpool, it’s as bad a performance from them that I’ve seen in a protracted time,’ Neville said on Sky Sports commentary.
‘They’ve lost every battle one-v-one, each certainly one of them. Their legs looked gone in that first half.
‘Virgil van Dijk was really strange for Man City’s second. He was just standing there and lets it hit him. There’s a bit of movement from his right leg and it kills his goalkeeper.
‘Liverpool fans will probably be fearful. There was an enormous amount of optimism across the transfer window nevertheless it’s not quite happening yet and this can be a big disappointment today.’
Ex-Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge also questioned Van Dijk’s defending in an important moment within the match, adding: ‘Virg sticks a leg out nevertheless it wasn’t decisive.
‘Liverpool have been well short, I expected more organisation and higher pressing. I expected a greater performance after the Real Madrid win however the players just haven’t been at it.’
Manchester City return to Premier League motion following the international break against Newcastle United, while Liverpool play host to Nottingham Forest.
Leaders Arsenal, whose ten-game winning run was ended by Sunderland on Saturday, face north London rivals Tottenham next.
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