Gary Neville finally breaks his silence on one Tottenham player who’s been ‘very poor’ all season after watching Liverpool vs Tottenham
Gary Neville finally breaks his silence on one Tottenham player who’s been ‘very poor’ all season after watching Liverpool vs Tottenham
Gary Neville delivered a brutal verdict on Tottenham Hotspur’s performance during their Premier League clash with Liverpool at Anfield, singling out the team’s lack of defensive composure as Liverpool closed in on another historic league title.
Tottenham had made a promising start to the match, briefly silencing the Anfield crowd by taking an early lead through Dominic Solanke. The striker rose highest to meet a cross with a powerful bullet header, giving Spurs the advantage and a glimmer of hope in their attempt to spoil Liverpool’s title celebrations. However, it would not be long before Lucas Bergvall’s name was thrust into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
Liverpool, managed by Arne Slot, responded almost instantly, showcasing the resilience and quality that has put them on the cusp of a 20th English league title. Just four minutes after falling behind, Luis Diaz found the back of the net with a clinical finish, restoring parity and swinging the momentum firmly in Liverpool’s favour.
As the first half progressed, Tottenham struggled to regain their foothold. Alexis Mac Allister then produced a moment of magic, unleashing a stunning long-range strike that gave Liverpool the lead and left the Spurs defence in disarray. It was the kind of goal that lifted Anfield’s energy to another level — and Tottenham looked increasingly vulnerable.
Their fragility was brutally exposed again when Liverpool scored their third, a moment that particularly angered Gary Neville. Spurs midfielder Lucas Bergvall was at fault, misjudging a corner while defending the front post. Instead of clearing the ball to safety, Bergvall’s weak and poorly executed header flicked the ball dangerously into the centre of the box. Cody Gakpo pounced, rifling a shot into the back of the net to strengthen Liverpool’s control of the game.
Neville, speaking on Sky Sports commentary, did not mince his words when analysing Bergvall’s mistake. “Bergvall’s header is appalling, it’s pathetic,” he said. “He half ducks his head. I have no idea what he’s doing. It was a free header and he ended up glancing it into his own box.”
Despite criticising Bergvall’s role in the goal, Neville took a moment to commend Gakpo’s sharp instincts in capitalising on the error. “Take nothing away from Gakpo — what he does really well is get it away so quickly. It’s a good strike.”
Neville went on to criticise Tottenham’s general approach to the game, arguing that they had made life far too easy for a Liverpool side full of players ready to punish any lapse in concentration. “Spurs are the perfect opponents for Liverpool today. They just don’t smell danger,” Neville continued. “Liverpool have got so many players out there who will punish any mistake at any level.”
By half-time, Liverpool had turned the match around and were firmly on course to seal the title, taking a commanding lead into the break. The Reds needed just a point to clinch their record-equalling 20th English league championship, drawing level with arch-rivals Manchester United.
Outside Anfield, thousands of Liverpool supporters gathered in anticipation of the celebrations to come. The atmosphere was electric, with fans determined to enjoy the occasion properly after the disappointment of 2020, when Covid-19 restrictions meant they were unable to mark Liverpool’s previous title triumph in person.
This time, nothing would stop the party, as Arne Slot’s side moved to complete a memorable season by claiming their place among the legends of English football.