Gary Neville and Jamie Redknapp have criticized Tottenham Hotspur’s defensive duo Cristian Romero and Eric Dier after their 4-3 defeat against Liverpool on Sunday. The pair had a poor first-half display at Anfield, which would have made their manager, Julian Nagelsmann, grimace.
Liverpool had already scored three goals by the 15th minute, and Tottenham had conceded their 14th goal in just over three games on Merseyside. Ryan Mason’s side fought back and appeared to have secured a 3-3 draw in stoppage time, but a mistake from Lucas Moura allowed Diogo Jota to score an incredible 94th-minute winner in front of the Kop.
The disastrous performance in the first half was reminiscent of their previous game against Newcastle United earlier in the month, where Romero fouled Cody Gakpo to concede a penalty that Mohamed Salah converted to give the hosts a three-goal lead.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Redknapp criticized Romero’s recent form as ‘diabolical’ and slammed his latest rash decision that cost Tottenham. Neville agreed with his fellow pundit after the game, extending his criticism to Dier and labeling the duo as an ‘absolute shambles.’ The former Manchester United defender also suggested that Romero was selfish in not thinking about working alongside his backline but trying to make himself look better.
In an episode of the Gary Neville Podcast, Neville expressed his disappointment with the lack of composure from Romero and the choices made by Dier, stating that they were all over the place at the back. Neville also noted that Romero, who initially looked calm and composed when he first joined the team, appeared to have changed his mindset, as he was now trying to win every ball and running into areas.
Tottenham’s defensive struggles have been a constant problem for the club this season. They have already conceded 60 goals in 37 Premier League games, which is the worst defensive record among the top ten teams in the league. Mason’s side has now lost five of their last six matches, which makes it hard for them to qualify for any European competition next season.
In conclusion, Tottenham’s defensive problems have once again been exposed in their 4-3 defeat to Liverpool. Neville and Redknapp’s criticisms of Romero and Dier are not unfounded, as their lack of composure and decision-making have cost the team dearly in recent matches. Tottenham must address their defensive issues if they hope to compete at a higher level in the future.