Neville explains Karius stance

Gary Neville has defended his comments about Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius, which prompted an angry response from the player and his manager Jurgen Klopp.

Neville, who was a special guest on Sunday Supplement, was involved in an exchange with Karius and Klopp after he said the Reds stopper transmitted anxiety and nervousness to his team-mates during their 4-3 defeat at Bournemouth.

The Liverpool goalkeeper took offence with Neville’s thoughts, questioning his credibility as a pundit following his spell as Valencia manager, which in turn saw Phil Neville and Jamie Carragher enter the debate as the story developed.

Neville stood by his comments, claiming the storm which followed was a product of Liverpool’s handling of the situation.

“It became a big story because the player, coach and Liverpool added fuel to a fire that wasn’t there,” Neville said.

“Two weeks ago [on Super Sunday] my most critical comments were about a United and an Everton player. No one will remember what my comments were because Manchester United and Everton never reacted to it, the players never reacted to it and they were forgotten about.

“I called Marouane Fellaini pathetic and idiotic and I battered Maarten Stekelenburg for his part in Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s goal.

“I said Karius transmitted anxiety and nervousness to his team-mates. The other two stories have disappeared to the point at which no one can remember them, that’s how I would expect press departments of football clubs to deal with these …

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