Full Breakdown
Liverpool’s Tunnel Keep-Ups Draw Criticism Ahead of United Defeat
5/6/2026, 6:50:34 PM
Tunnel Keep-Ups Spark Controversy Before the Match
A video released on social media showed Liverpool players Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai, Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong passing a ball and performing keep-ups in the Old Trafford tunnel shortly after arriving for the match. The footage prompted immediate commentary about the team’s focus and professionalism.
Season Context and Recent Form
Liverpool entered the match in fourth place, seven points adrift of their rivals. The defeat marked the club’s 18th loss across all competitions this season and ended a run of three consecutive league victories. Liverpool secured the league title in Slot’s first season, but have since struggled, with Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson set to leave at season’s end.
Players Involved and Key Voices
The four players – Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai, Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong – were senior squad members. Former player Don Hutchinson condemned the behaviour, and manager Arne Slot acknowledged recurring issues after the loss.
Match Outcome and Statistics
Manchester United led 2-0 at halftime via Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko. Liverpool equalised through Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo, but Kobbie Mainoo’s late goal gave United a 3-2 win, their first league double over Liverpool in a decade.
Official Response from Manager Arne Slot
Slot said the margins were small and highlighted the need for improvement, noting limited time to fix recurring issues this season.
Criticism from Former Player Don Hutchinson
Hutchinson called tunnel activity disrespectful and said it would not have been tolerated under Jürgen Klopp, Jordan Henderson and James Milner.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I can't get my head around the Liverpool players doing keepy-ups inside the Man Utd tunnel. [Jurgen] Klopp + [Jordan] Henderson + [James] Milner etc etc would never have allowed these sort of standards to drop.” — Don Hutchinson, former Liverpool midfielder
- “I think the issue with this is.. I looks like disrespect to the opposition that you're doing keeps-ups in their tunnel. Not focused.” — Don Hutchinson, former Liverpool midfielder
- “The margins are not so big on us being able to win a game like this, I know what we can improve on and we are already working hard on this,” — Arne Slot, Liverpool manager
- “The same issues keep coming back which is not a huge surprise as you don't have long to fix it during the season.” — Arne Slot, Liverpool manager
What’s Next
Liverpool host Chelsea in their next league match, a fixture that could secure a top-five finish if combined with favorable results elsewhere. The players' actions remain under the microscope as the season progresses.
