Liverpool fans reminded Manchester United icon Gary Neville of what one supporter described as “the worst piece of punditry” in football history – after he announced he was “not nervous” before his old club lost 7-0 at Anfield.
Reds fans celebrated the second anniversary of one of the greatest nights ever witnessed by the Kop faithful on March 5. In a result that reverberated around the globe, Jurgen Klopp’s men put seven past a stunned Reds Devils side, with Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez leading the charge with a brace each.
In a poetic end to proceedings, club legend Roberto Firmino – who was destined to depart Merseyside in the summer that followed – put the seal on the victory with a seventh in the closing stages. The result made even more sweet for many Kopites, not least due to the confident proclamations from ex-Old Trafford stalwart Neville in the lead-up to kick-off in L4.
Giving his predictions ahead of the game, he informed Anfield hero Graeme Souness that he felt “relaxed” about his beloved team’s chances. He said on Sky Sports: “I’m not nervous. I’ve never been more relaxed coming here in the last nine years as a Manchester United fan. Honestly, do you know, this bunch are tough.”
Looking back over this faux pas from Neville, one fan quoted the post and could not resist engaging in some light humor at the Red Devils legend’s expense, saying: “Happy anniversary to all who celebrate,” as a second said: “‘This bunch are tough’ might be the worst piece of punditry in the history of the sport.”
A third then chipped in to offer some feedback to the outspoken Sky Sports pundit, saying: “Classic G-Nev before his team got absolutely destroyed, then he turned around and said Liverpool didn’t even play that well,” before a fourth added: “Look at how smug he is hahahaha won’t see anything like that again for a long time.”
(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
The overall message behind the final comment above appeared to be a view shared by then-Liverpool boss Klopp too, who described the result as a “once in a lifetime” occurrence. Reacting after what was a historic game, he admitted: “The 7-0 we knew that day, it was a freak result that happens once in a lifetime.
“If it helps anyone for the next game it is the team who lost 7-0 and not the team who won 7-0. If you take it all out of consideration and just play a football game against the historical rival of Liverpool at home at Anfield that itself must make it a special game and that’s what I want to see from us, a special game.”
Fast forward a couple of years and it is clear that Neville is determined not to make a similar mistake as he predicted that old foes Liverpool will clinch the Premier League title this term. Speaking on Sky Sports, the ex-England mainstay said: ‘I can’t see complacency [being an issue].
“They’ve got so much experience and look in control. They’ve adapted pretty well all season. Injuries are the only thing. The only thing you would say is that the team that is behind you is there waiting for you… but the team that are behind them are NOT their waiting for them. They are fumbling around.”
