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Liverpool avoided the midweek Champions League 'hangover' with Arsenal win, says Gary Neville

Liverpool's Sadio Mane celebrates scoring his side's second goal of the game during the Premier League match v Arsenal at Anfield, Liverpool
Image: Sadio Mane celebrates scoring Liverpool's second goal of the game against Arsenal

Liverpool avoided the midweek Champions League 'hangover' after storming to a 4-0 victory against Arsenal, says Gary Neville.

The Reds dominated the Premier League match at Anfield, which saw Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Mo Salah and Daniel Sturridge all on the scoresheet.

It comes after they also successfully qualified for the Champions League group stages on Tuesday, with Neville praising Jurgen Klopp's side for not letting their midweek exploits affect their league form.

Emre Can goal celeb, Liverpool v Hoffenheim, UEFA Champions League play-off round 2nd leg
Image: Emre Can celebrates scoring against Hoffenheim in the Champions League in midweek

"It was everything you could've asked for from Liverpool. There was the potential for a hangover from midweek and getting into the Champions League, but it is obviously a big relief for the club, Jurgen Klopp and his players," he said on the Gary Neville Podcast.

"The efforts they put in last season have been rewarded with what they wanted and you just wondered if that could have taken a little bit of the edge off them but it absolutely didn't.

LISTEN: Gary Neville podcast
LISTEN: Gary Neville podcast

Click here to download the latest Gary Neville podcast.

"You look at that front three or four over the last few years and they have been scintillating at times. One thing about this Klopp team is that you have to deal with them in the first 30 minutes of the game.

"We were very lucky to watch the Borussia Dortmund team that Klopp was managing four or five years ago and it was an outstanding team. This Liverpool team isn't where that team is yet, but from my point of view going forward, they are fantastic and they represent the manager."

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Watch highlights of Liverpool's 4-0 home win over Arsenal

The big talking point before the game was Klopp's decision to 'rest' Simon Mignolet and play Loris Karius in between the sticks, with Neville raising questions about both goalkeepers.

"We heard the rumour circulating this morning and it was a strange one in that why would you create that fire when you actually haven't got a fire," he added.

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"I've questions about whether Mignolet is a Premier League winning goalkeeper, I have had for three or four years, so I don't think it's a case of him being unfortunate to be left out because when you ship 50 goals per season, you're exposed to being dropped.

"However, the timing of it was something that surprised us all. Last year, Karius wasn't ready and today you see him with a clean sheet, but there are two or three moments that he will carry with him. He just needs to mature and get used to this ground. It's a demanding, high-pressure ground.

Neville's damning Arsenal verdict
Neville's damning Arsenal verdict

Gary Neville delivered a damning assessment of Arsenal's players after their 4-0 defeat to Liverpool.

"It does create that uncertainty with the defence and it's never ideal. It's the one position you do want locked down and ultimately, that will put some doubt in the players' minds.

"But Jurgen Klopp knows his players and he has his reasons for doing it that we don't know about although I don't think anyone believed that he was rested."

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