Gary Neville blasts ‘pathetic’ Tottenham star during Liverpool thrashing
Gary Neville blasts ‘pathetic’ Tottenham star during Liverpool thrashing
Gary Neville did not hold back in his criticism of Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Lucas Bergvall during Spurs’ Premier League clash against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday. The former Manchester United defender, speaking on Sky Sports commentary, branded the young Swedish international’s defending as “pathetic” after a costly mistake that helped Liverpool tighten their grip on the match.
Tottenham entered the game determined to throw a wrench into Liverpool’s title celebrations. Ange Postecoglou’s men made an encouraging start and took an early lead through Dominic Solanke, who powered home a brilliant header to stun the home crowd and give Spurs a dream beginning.
However, Liverpool, managed by Arne Slot and needing just a single point to secure their 20th English league title, responded almost instantly. Within four minutes, Luis Díaz struck to bring the Reds level, quickly restoring belief and energy among the Anfield faithful.
The momentum firmly shifted as the first half wore on. Alexis Mac Allister produced a stunning long-range strike to put Liverpool ahead, sending the fans into raptures. The hosts continued to press aggressively, and before the halftime whistle, Cody Gakpo added a third, taking full advantage of a Tottenham defensive lapse to seemingly put the game beyond doubt.
It was during the buildup to Liverpool’s third goal that Neville turned his focus sharply onto Bergvall. While defending a Liverpool corner, Bergvall, stationed at the near post, attempted to deal with the ball but only succeeded in flicking his header awkwardly into a dangerous area inside the box. Gakpo reacted quickest, smashing the ball into the net with a ruthless finish.
“Bergvall’s header is appalling, it’s pathetic,” Neville fumed during live commentary. “He half ducks his head — I honestly have no idea what he’s trying to do. It was a free header, no pressure on him, and somehow he glances it straight into the danger zone.”
Despite his harsh assessment of Bergvall’s error, Neville did credit Gakpo for his quick thinking and sharp execution. “Take nothing away from Gakpo — what he does really well is that he doesn’t hesitate. It’s a clean, quick strike,” he added.
Neville also delivered a damning verdict on Tottenham’s overall defensive awareness, saying: “Spurs are the perfect opponents for Liverpool today. They just don’t smell danger. You can’t afford to be that naïve against a team filled with players who will punish even the slightest mistake.”
By the halftime interval, Liverpool had weathered their shaky opening and built a commanding 3-1 lead, putting them within touching distance of sealing the Premier League title.
Outside Anfield, thousands of jubilant Liverpool supporters began to gather in anticipation of celebrating a historic achievement. Should Liverpool clinch the league title, it would mark their 20th English championship — equalling the record currently held by their fierce rivals, Manchester United.
The atmosphere around Anfield was particularly emotional, as many fans reflected on the fact that their last Premier League triumph, back in 2020, occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic, when public gatherings were banned and celebrations had to take place remotely. This time, Liverpool’s faithful were determined to soak in every moment of the occasion alongside their team.