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Chris Sutton believes Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius should be ‘commended’ for being open and honest despite Gary and Phil Neville’s ‘totally out of order’ behaviour.
Karius’ place in the Liverpool starting line-up has been hotly debated after making three major mistakes in a week against Bournemouth and West Ham United.
The goalkeeper was also scolded by the Neville brothers for telling Sportsmail he felt the former Manchester United right back had been overly critical of his error that led to Nathan Ake’s goal in Bournemouth’s 4-3 comeback win over Liverpool.
But former Chelsea striker Sutton argues that Karius had a right to reply given he was under scrutiny and thinks the brothers acted inappropriately, particularly Phil who told the 23-year-old to ‘keep your mouth shut’.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, he said: ‘Where Phil was wrong is he’s basically saying players shouldn’t do interviews. That was the way I read his comments — when you’re young, breaking into a team, train hard, work hard, say nothing until you’ve got a couple of seasons under your belt then you can start shouting your mouth off.
‘Well, what are Phil’s criteria when players should be allowed to speak? Does that mean no one from the lower leagues is allowed or do you have to have 50 caps, 100 caps, do you have to win the Premier League? I don’t get it.
‘Karius… what did Karius do? He was asked a question. It was a 50-minute interview. I think he was asked a couple of questions and it took what 30 [or] 50 seconds and he gave an opinion and Gary Neville copped the hump.
‘That is the long and the short of it and then Phil Neville backing his brother up saying “nobody should be allowed to do interviews until you’re a certain age”. And, here’s hypocrisy for you… they work in the media. The Nevilles are totally out of order with this one.’
The brothers were provoked when Karius loosely referred to Gary’s failed managerial stint at Valencia earlier this year and also said ‘he is always very critical’.
Asked about Gary’s criticism of his performance at Bournemouth, Karius said: ‘What critics say right after the game, I don’t know what I think. If you asked them again would they say it now?
‘And I don’t care what Gary Neville said. He was a top player, then he was a manager for a short bit and now he is back to being an expert again.
‘But he is always very critical. I think he does it to everyone. I just hope that when I do well he will comment on that. We will see in the future.’
Gary replied on social media: ‘My sincere apologies Karius. You’re right. A failed manager hasn’t a clue. I won’t copy your great fan [Jamie Carragher], pundit and club legend again.’
Sutton, however, believes Karius should be praised for fronting up given how he was unfairly targeted.
‘Karius should be commended for doing the interview. Then Gary Neville reacted and, let’s get it right, that was a bit precious of Gary.
‘Then Phil reacted (on Sunday night) didn’t he, I mean they’re like the Mitchell brothers, aren’t they, the pair of them!’ Meanwhile, on Monday, manager Jurgen Klopp backed Karius and suggested that the Neville brothers have little love for Liverpool given their United connections. ‘The Neville brothers don’t care much about Liverpool,’ he added.
