Gary Neville slams ‘useless’ Liverpool attack after defeat to Chelsea

Last Updated on 5 October 2025

Gary Neville has hit out at Liverpool after Arne Slot’s side fell to a third consecutive defeat, losing 2-1 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Liverpool’s title challenge took another major blow on Sunday night as Estevao’s stoppage-time strike sealed victory for Chelsea, leaving the Reds frustrated.

After Moises Caicedo’s thunderous opener, Cody Gakpo had briefly restored hope with a second-half equaliser but the visitors failed to build on it.

Gary Neville: Liverpool’s creative players ‘were giving the ball away like you wouldn’t believe’

Speaking on The Gary Neville Podcast, the former Manchester United captain was scathing about Liverpool’s performance in the closing stages.

“A lot has been made of Liverpool’s defensive work and rightly so but that’s not why they’ve lost this game.” Neville said. “They’ve lost this game because, in the last 15–20 minutes, their creative players, their midfielders and forwards, were absolutely useless.”

Neville singled out Mohamed Salah and Florian Wirtz.

“Salah is sublime. You can’t criticise his consistency but today his decisions were poor and his finishing wasn’t there.” Neville added, “Wirtz looked lost, not knowing how to get into the game. He’s too predictable right now and needs to mature in how he positions himself.”

The pundit added that Liverpool “should have gone on to win the game” after equalising, especially given Chelsea’s weakened back line, but instead “collapsed creatively” in the closing minutes.

Liverpool’s week from hell comes to an end with an international break but doubts over system emerge

Estevao’s last minute winner was not the only heartbreak Liverpool fans endured this week. It all started in London, a week ago, when Crystal Palace snatched a late winner through Eddie Nketiah.

Then, the Reds were off to play Galatasaray in the Champions League, losing to a Victor Osimhen first-half penalty.

It is the first time Arne Slot has lost three matches on the bounce and back-to-back Premier League games.

There will be solace in the shape of an international break but for the Dutchman, he can hardly afford to sit on his laurels.

He has two weeks, with most of his key players away on national duty, to come up with a system because Liverpool are back in action at Anfield against bitter rivals, Manchester United.

Anything less than a win will result in added scrutiny, as question marks appear on Liverpool’s summer signings and Slot’s inability, so far, to maximize their strengths.