Roy Keane blasts Liverpool for ‘defending like a pub team’ and makes Premier League prediction after losing to Arsenal

ROY KEANE has blasted Liverpool for defending “like a pub team” in their defeat to Arsenal.

The Premier League leading Reds fell to a 3-1 defeat after a horror show from Virgil van Dijk and Alisson.

PAVirgil van Dijk and Alisson were responsible for a huge error in Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat to Arsenal[/caption]

GettyRoy Keane blasted Liverpool for ‘defending like a pub team’[/caption]

Arsenal were by far the better team on Sunday

Liverpool were thoroughly bested throughout the match, mustering just one shot on target.

However, it was the defending on display from Jurgen Klopp‘s side triggered the scorn of Manchester United legend Keane – with the Gunners registering 15 shots with an xG value of 3.52.

Speaking on Sky Sports after the game, Keane said: “In terms of the intensity from the first whistle to the last from Liverpool, in possession and without, I can’t believe how bad they were.

“Again, credit to Arsenal, they turned up and were at it, but Liverpool defensively, the goals they gave away, like a pub team defending.”

Gabriel Martinelli capitalised on a mistake between Alisson and Van Dijk to score a pivotal second for the Gunners.

Van Dijk pinned blame for the error on himself, admitting: “It’s a very tough day. I take full responsibility for Martinelli’s goal as that was a turning point in the match and I should have done better.

“It’s a split decision and I chose to let the ball bounce, try and put my body in between, Alisson touched me a little bit and that’s why he couldn’t clear it properly.

“It hurts and it hurts for the rest of the team — but especially for me. It was a big turning point.

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“These things have not happened too many times in my career but I will recover as I learn from things that don’t go well.”

The result leaves Arsenal two points off the top, with Manchester City also hoping to move to the same margin when they play Brentford this evening.

On the title race, Keane added: “Having watched the game live today, I know that Liverpool have had an off day and Arsenal are still nice on the eye, but I still couldn’t see these two teams finishing ahead of Man City. I just can’t.

“Obviously I’ve been proved wrong before, but you look where City are, with (Kevin) De Bruyne coming back, (Erling) Haaland’s available, I don’t see them two teams going right till the end.

“I think in terms of keeping up with Man City, I just can’t see it.”