‘Below-par’: Gary Neville critical of Liverpool 24-year-old & Reds despite win v Everton

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Gary Neville thinks Ibrahima Konate got ‘lucky’ after he wasn’t sent off during Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Everton at Anfield on Saturday.

The on-field referee Craig Pawson had already set the standard and rhythm of the game when he sent Ashley Young off for two bookable offences in the first half – Liverpool fans were delighted to see the former Manchester United told to go for an early bath.

And, in the second half, with Everton on the counter, Ibrahima Konate proceeded to foul Beto whilst already on a yellow card, but he wasn’t booked (Sky Sports).

Gary Neville was left unimpressed by that moment as he felt that the 24-year-old should have been given his marching orders and he thought the team as a whole were ‘below-par’, as he told Sky Sports.

Well, you know what Liverpool fans will be screaming here. That Alexis Mac Allister sending off against Bournemouth, which was overturned.

And that now well-documented game against Tottenham, when they were well and truly done over by the officials.

So, from the perspective of their fans, whilst they would probably agree that Ibrahima Konate got the rub of the green, they will feel that it’s about time they got some luck.

Ibrahima Konate – sending off?

“I actually thought Liverpool were below-par, they weren’t at their best,” said Neville. “I think Konate was lucky.

“I left at 1-0. So, I saw the penalty with Michael Keane, then obviously Salah scored it. It’s a good result for Liverpool.”

Big three points for Liverpool – and a clean sheet

That win yesterday briefly put Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table, before they were overtaken by Manchester City and Arsenal.

All in all, it leaves the Reds in second place, one point behind the Treble-winners and in with every chance of mounting a title challenge.

Along with the points, it was a big clean sheet also for the team, as you would imagine they will need to add to their two clean sheets this season if they are to challenge the likes of Man City.

That’s probably the only side of the game that fans question because there have still been some issues this term at the back, as Andy Robertson’s long-term injury doesn’t help – Anfield legend Stevie Nicol expressed his doubts after Robertson’s shoulder injury.