1 week ago
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Roy Keane didn't hold back in his criticism of Liverpool, branding them as "bad champions," much to the annoyance of Jurgen Klopp.
The Manchester United legend was particularly harsh on the Reds during their Premier League title defence in the 2020-21 season, following a crushing 4-1 defeat at home to Manchester City in February 2021.
This marked Liverpool's second consecutive home loss and the team's third straight defeat at Anfield, prompting the Irishman to unleash his fury on the German manager and his team. Keane criticized the then Reds boss for making excuses and suggested that Klopp's players had become complacent after their Champions League and Premier League victories in successive seasons.
While appearing on Sky Sports, he stated: "We spoke before the game - they are making a lot of excuses. To me, they've been bad champions. You can lose a game of football, but... I can't figure this group out. Looking at them, even during the week, Brighton were comfortable; you can get beaten in a game - there's a way to be beaten. But I don't see that.
"I think maybe they've believed the hype over the last year or two. We spoke about there would be some sort of drop off, but they're playing for a big team in Liverpool. It's almost as if they won the league last year and got a bit carried away, believed their own hype, they're going to beat teams.
"In my mindset, when you've won a league title, your next challenge is, 'Can we do it again?' I never got the impression from this squad/group, from their interviews, even from the manager last year when they won it, were they saying, 'What's the next step for Liverpool?' No. Almost, 'Let's enjoy this.'
"Obviously, it was a long wait, 30 years, but I never heard any of the players come out and say, 'I want to do it again.' That's the key. Now they're talking about trying to get in the top four... from winning the league last year. The top four is now where our targets are?"
The Reds faced an injury crisis throughout that campaign, with Virgil van Dijk the most notable absentee as the Dutchman was sidelined for most of the season following an ACL injury.
Yet despite being without the defender, Keane maintained it wasn't a valid excuse for their poor form.
"They're a huge club," he added. "They have to deal with setbacks. Is that not part of the game? If players were fit the whole time, it would be fantastic. You could look at Man City and say they're missing their two best players.
"They've come to Liverpool, who have a strong team. I know the two center-halves are missing, but they still had their best attacking players on the pitch. [They] still had their best goalkeeper available; they still have international players available.
"And after the game, I think Klopp said the keeper's feet were cold!"
Keane's remarks didn't go unanswered, as Klopp vowed to Liverpool supporters that silverware would return to Anfield.
"We will go again," he pledged, adding: "If you didn't see a really good football team that will win football games again, I don't know exactly. That really hurts tonight, but we will go again.
"If you are only really united when we are winning, there is something wrong with you. We will go again. This is a tough moment in a tough season - I saw a lot of good things tonight and we have to go again and again and again."
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