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Andrew Robertson played ‘like he’s had a week on the lash’, Gary Neville says after Liverpool thrashed by City

2020 Pool
2020 Pool

Gary Neville claimed Andrew Robertson played “like he’s had a week on the lash” as Liverpool were thrashed 4-0 by Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

Phil Foden’s neat one-two left a lunging Robertson stranded as the English playmaker capped a fantastic move to put City 3-0 up before half-time against the newly crowned champions.

“He’s been outstanding for Liverpool for the last two seasons but he’s playing tonight like he has had a week on the lash,” Neville said.

“[It’s] so unlike him. You see him get drawn into that space, he just has to hold his nerve, he’s rushing out and getting played around. [He] sees him coming Foden, the one-two is fantastic, and the way he finishes it delights Pep Guardiola.”

Watch the goal below:

With the title secured a week ago, there was little at stake for Jurgen Klopp’s side, who showed far from their usual levels of intensity but the loss, just their second of the league campaign, was an emphatic reminder that City will be desperate to regain their crown next season.

After the guard of honour, which included City manager Pep Guardiola, the visitors started brightly and Ederson had to be alert to keep out a fourth-minute effort from Mohamed Salah.

Salah then struck the post after a clever pass from Roberto Firmino, whose hair was coloured red, but if Liverpool thought they were in for another night of festivities, they were in for a rude awakening.

Joe Gomez could not cope with Raheem Sterling’s twisting and turning in the box, pulling him to the ground before Kevin De Bruyne converted the penalty in the 25th minute.

Virgil van Dijk reacts during the defeat (Reuters)
Virgil van Dijk reacts during the defeat (Reuters)

Sterling doubled the lead 10 minutes later when after a swift break, Phil Foden found him inside the box and the ex-Liverpool forward cut inside Gomez and slid the ball home.

Foden then made it 3-0, firing past Alisson after a swift exchange with Kevin De Bruyne.

City were showing an unusual willingness to play long balls and after Rodri launched a pass deep to De Bruyne, the Belgian found Sterling inside the box and he slipped the ball goalwards, with substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s outstretched touch only turning it into his own net.

Additional reporting by Reuters