Reece James of Chelsea FC has faced criticism from Manchester United legend Roy Keane after his defensive error paved the way for Liverpool's rapid counter-attack that led to Luis Diaz's opening goal at Stamford Bridge.
During the first weekend of the Premier League season, Stamford Bridge played host to a highly anticipated clash between Chelsea and Liverpool, resulting in a 1-1 draw.
Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool wasted no time in showcasing their attacking prowess, with Mo Salah's precise through ball finding Diaz's path, and the Colombian winger, who endured a challenging previous season on the sidelines, calmly slotted the ball past Chelsea's goalkeeper, Robert Sanchez, in one seamless motion.
With newly appointed manager Mauricio Pochettino at the helm, Chelsea introduced their summer signings Nicolas Jackson and Axel Disasi, alongside former Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, for their league debuts.
Luis Diaz's early goal for the visitors prompted Roy Keane to seize the moment and analyse Reece James’ defensive lapse, which let to the opening goal.
Reflecting on James' performance post-match, Keane remarked, 'James is looking at him running off him. He'll argue afterwards saying, 'Oh, I'm a wing-back and that's not my job. But he sees him running and you have to sprint back like your life depends on it.'
Keane went on to emphasise: 'I don't get it, as brilliant as James is – listen, I love him to bits and think he's a brilliant player, particularly going forward – but when you see someone running off the back of you, you sprint. You sprint. No excuses.'
Adding a touch of humour to his critique, Keane humorously quipped: 'He might as well stop and have a cup of tea. You've got to sprint back because you never know what might happen. He might take a bad touch.'
As Chelsea FC navigates the new season under Pochettino's leadership, tightening their defensive ranks could be crucial in maintaining their competitive edge in the Premier League.
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