Gary Neville has slammed Cole Palmer for laughing and joking with Pep Guardiola after Chelsea's 3-1 defeat to Manchester City on Saturday.

Despite taking the lead through Noni Madueke inside five minutes at the Etihad, the Blues limped to a fifth defeat of the Premier League season as City struck back through Josko Gvardiol, Erling Haaland and Phil Foden.

The defeat leaves Chelsea in sixth place in the Premier League table, one point behind the fourth and final Champions League qualification place.

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But despite the loss, Palmer was seen laughing and joking with Guardiola after the final whistle after a disappointing display against his former club, which left Neville less than impressed.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Neville insisted England international Palmer was being "played" by the City boss and believes Palmer's actions will have irritated the travelling Chelsea supporters.

"I want to say something about Cole Palmer, he was talking to Pep Guardiola on the pitch right at the end of the game and he was smiling with him, Pep Guardiola does that," said Neville.

"Cole, you’re being played, you’re being played here, you didn’t do enough out on that pitch in the second half.

"He’s an amazing player, absolutely brilliant, but you know something, those Chelsea fans that travelled today, the 3,000 or 4,000 in that far corner wanted better than that, they don’t really want to see you conversing with your opposition manager and smiling at the end of the game."

Neville added: "I’m not being old school here, but there’s something about that. I thought Pep Guardiola’s playing you here, I know he’s had him, but he didn’t play him here and he sold him.

"Having a conversation inside I’m not against that, obviously he’s played for the manager. But I just felt at the end there’s something about it I didn’t feel was right from a Cole Palmer perspective.

"I know why Pep Guardiola’s done it, that’s what Pep Guardiola does, but if I’d lost 3-1 away from home and had been as disappointed as I am and Cole Palmer, I expected more from him in the second half."