Here comes the backlash.
Joel Matip has made a decent impression since arriving at Liverpool but he has been part of a back four that has struggled in recent weeks.
Still, that does not excuse Martin Keown from his latest claim on BBC’s Football Focus.
The former Arsenal and England defender was discussing Liverpool’s malaise since the turn of the year when he said Matip was ‘no better than Martin Skrtel’.
Skrtel left Liverpool last year after being ostracised from the senior squad. When he finally left, for Fenerbache, there were few Liverpool supporters lining up to lament his loss. Needless to say, the Skrtel > Matip comments did not go down too well.
Our very own chief football writer Tony Barrett was not the only one to question Keown’s logic.
Martin Keown saying that Joel Matip isn't as good as Martin Skrtel is taking #paulnuttallfacts too far.
— Tony Barrett (@TonyBarrett) February 11, 2017
Mayo GAA star Aidan O’Shea was equally incredulous.
terrible shout by him.
— Aidan O'Shea (@AIDOXI) February 11, 2017
The pair were not the only two scratching their heads at Keown’s comments:
This week has seen @omid9 claim Suarez doesn't track back and @martinkeown5 state Skrtel is better than Matip. The world's gone mad ..
— Aaron Cutler (@aaron_cutler) February 11, 2017
https://twitter.com/DannyRobsonLFC/status/830396652066373632
https://twitter.com/DyerThomas/status/830402338426847232
Martin Keown talks absolute bollocks. How does he keep getting these gigs? Skrtel better than Matip….clueless! #LFC #FootballFocus #BBC
— Paul Buxton (@ColumbianBuck) February 11, 2017
It certainly has been a while since someone has agreed with Keown…
Martin Keown: "I could not have played for Guardiola". I suspect Pep will whole-heartedly agree. #MCFC
— Stuart Brennan (@StuartBrennan63) December 13, 2016
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