Gary Neville has pinned the blame for Cody Gakpo's opening goal on Sunday afternoon on Diogo Dalot, Fred and Raphael Varane.
Gakpo hit a lovely strike to give Liverpool the lead over Manchester United in their Premier League clash at Anfield. The Netherlands international benefitted from Andy Robertson's superb assist, as the Scot's pass caught United pair Dalot and Fred by surprise.
Varane then allowed Gakpo to cut onto his right foot and curl a delicious effort into the bottom corner of David de Gea's far post - turning the anxious home fans euphoric. Gakpo and Robertson deserve a lot of credit for the goal, but Neville thinks it was avoidable.
"We talked about the selection of Dalot versus [Aaron] Wan-Bissaka before the game," noted Neville on Sky Sports commentary, while sitting alongside Jamie Carragher. "He [Dalot] makes the first mistake by going in and not stopping Robertson, allowing him to turn.
"The next mistake is the one where Fred’s allowed Gakpo to go in behind, and then Varane should never allow Gakpo on his right foot, he has to push him onto his left.
"One mistake after another from Man United. Once you go into midfield as a full-back, you’ve got to make sure that person doesn’t turn and play a ball in behind you."
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Yet Neville's co-commentator Carragher was keen to praise the Liverpool pair. He replied, "This is about Andy Robertson and Cody Gakpo. Robertson’s fantastic and ends up beating Fred all ends up, you see he’s onside but what can he do from here?
"That is absolutely fantastic from Cody Gakpo. See that pass from Andy Robertson, Varane doesn’t cover himself in glory, [he] should do a lot better. But that composure as he comes inside - we know that’s his signature trick at PSV Eindhoven, [but we] haven’t seen it so much at Anfield.
"You see the position there, and as soon as he hits it he knows. First goals in Liverpool games are huge at this moment in time for confidence in the team.
"Liverpool needed that goal and, of course, it comes at a great time. Liverpool were showing signs of nervousness, Manchester United were growing into the game. So, it does feel like a huge moment for Liverpool on half-time."
During the half-time analysis, Graeme Souness could appreciate both sides of the argument. He said, "It’s Fred that gets it wrong. He doesn’t need to take a couple of steps to his right and he ended up slipping. He ends up coming out towards Gakpo and then he checks inside. Varane, very slow and he can’t get his feet in the right place.
"You have to give Andy Robertson great credit, and then the shot comes in, [Lisandro] Martinez cuts across de Gea’s sight lines and he can’t see it, can’t make an effort to try and save it. Andy Robertson deserves all the credit there - and, of course, the finish."
