Liverpool’s disappointing season took another turn on Sunday as they were pegged back late on by struggling Tottenham Hotspur and Roy Keane did not pull any punches
Roy Keane once again slammed Liverpool as ‘bad champions’ after accusing them of too much partying. The Reds’ title defence has fallen flat this season under Arne Slot.
The reigning champions now sit 21 points behind current leaders Arsenal, having been held to a 1-1 draw by struggling Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday at Anfield. Dominik Szoboszlai had given Liverpool the lead, only for Richarlison to equalise late in the game.
Having slammed Liverpool’s title defence in the past, Manchester United icon Keane has once again criticised their approach this season.
Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: "Considering they were league champions last year, I’ve said it before and I’ve said it a number of times, Liverpool are bad champions. They are now 21 points behind Arsenal; what a drop-off that is! That is so bad."
He added: "I think there are issues going on in the background; I think there are bigger issues... I don’t know if they are all on the same page and there doesn't seem to be that chemistry with the players.
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"Last year I was critical of Liverpool, and I felt they were always partying too much. They were partying with four, five, or six weeks to go... You are Liverpool Football Club; are you not expected to win league titles? So when you do win it, enjoy it, but let's back it up next year."
And while Keane has torn into Liverpool, Reds midfielder Szoboszlai has done the same and claimed that a European spot might be as good as it gets for the side this season.
Speaking after the draw with Spurs, he said: "In the last minute, again, I don't know how many times this season already. We have to wake up. I feel flat. We have to wake up because if we carry on like this, we should be happy with the Conference League. I don't know why this is happening, I honestly don't know.
"I think in the first-half we played very well, we controlled the whole game and they hardly created chances apart from one or two headers. Second half we just didn't so the same things. We will sit down together, and this is the most difficult time, but we have to stick together."
Liverpool are back in action in midweek as they host Galatasaray in the second-leg of their Champions League last-16 clash. Slot’s side are 1-0 behind following last week’s defeat in Turkey.