SKY SPORTS PUNDIT GARY NEVILLE took issue with Seamus Coleman's role in Liverpool's opening goal in the Merseyside derby last night.
Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool side beat Sean Dyche's Everton 2-0 on Monday night, but it was the opening goal that the former Manchester United took issue with.
Everton took a corner late in the first half. James Tarkowski hit the post from the resulting corner and the bouncing ball fell to another Everton player. His shot then fell into the path of Darwin Nunez.
Coleman, who was the nearest man to Nunez went to challenge the Uruguayan but didn't get there quick enough at the time.
Darwin Nunez played a one two with Mohammed Salah and then raced into acres of space.
Nunez found Salah in Everton's penalty box and made it 1-0 in front of a noisy Kop.
Neville speaking on Sky after the game highlighted Coleman's role in the sequence of play.
"At the edge of the box, if you look at Coleman, once you go there you can't stop, you've got to go and win it, take everything and give a foul away," said the pundit
"He jumps. Your job is to delay the counterattack, he quickens the attack up. We know how good Liverpool are on the counterattack, they've been like that for years... "
There were just 13 seconds between James Tarkowski hitting the post & Mohamed Salah converting at the other end of the pitch.
Salah’s now been directly involved in 100 Premier League goals for Liverpool at Anfield (71 goals, 29 assists). ⭐️
pic.twitter.com/hGbkAxwvzD— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) February 13, 2023
Jordan Pickford was also critiqued online for his role in the opener.
The Everton shot stopper left Salah with most of the goal to aim at. Neville also slammed the England keeper.
"Pickford's positioning is not interesting, it's just bad. I have no idea what he's doing.
"It's almost as if he thinks the ball isn't going to Salah at all and is going to the back post. He makes a real mess of it.
"It's an open goal and he makes it very easy for Mo Salah."
Liverpool's next game will be against Newcastle on Saturday, while Everton's will be against Leeds on the same day.
See More: Everton, Football, Liverpool, Seamus Coleman
