Manchester United legend Roy Keane has said that he does not want to hear any more "excuses" from Liverpool over their shaky 2020-21 campaign.
The Premier League champions fell 10 points behind Manchester City in the title race after losing 4-1 to their adversaries on Sunday - their third top-flight home defeat in a row.
Micah Richards had previously suggested that an empty Anfield would hamper Liverpool's chances of coming out on top - a comment that did not sit well with Keane - and he proceeded to criticise numerous "excuses" that have already come out of the Reds' camp this term.
Responding to Richards's comment on Sky Sports News, Keane said: "More excuses! What we don't want to hear from Liverpool is excuses, there's been plenty of excuses coming out of Liverpool over the last few weeks.
"City have had an extra break, fixture pileup, there's been plenty of excuses from [Klopp]. We've said from day one, injury problems of course, have affected them, but we could say that about Manchester City.
"As I said, no more excuses Liverpool. Huge expectations, the bottom line is they've not stepped up to the plate regarding the challenges that have come their way.
"Particularly from the backup players, they've not been good enough, they've not shown it so far. Do you want to use that must-win situation? I suppose that is the case if they think they can win the title."
Liverpool now have six days to recover from their defeat to Pep Guardiola's side before they face another title-chasing team in Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.
Ben Knapton
