Manchester City ran out 2-1 winners over Sheffield United on Sunday – and BBC pundit Garth Crooks has criticised full-back Kyle Walker.
City went top of the Premier League with the result, and are the only club to have won their first three matches.
Erling Haaland opened the scoring in the second-half, after a frustrating first 45 in which he missed a penalty.
But the Blades then equalised late on through Jayden Bogle.
But City showed why they are champions.
It was that man Rodri again who came in clutch for City, lashing a shot into the top corner.
City did dominate the game but made hard work of it in the end – and £160,000-a-week star Walker has now come in for some criticism from Crooks.
Garth Crooks takes aim at Kyle Walker
Crooks has selected Haaland in his Premier League Team of the Week. But in his assessment of the Norwegian, he has been critical of Walker.
He believes the England international actually showed arrogance against his former club in not clearing the ball away just before the Blades equalised.
He said (BBC Sport): “There was a moment when Kyle Walker, whose mistake led to the Blades’ equaliser before Manchester City’s late winner, looked more like a rookie than their captain.
“If Walker wants to retain the role, he has to show leadership and not arrogance. The former will win him titles – and the latter will lose them.”
Dramatic from Crooks, it was just a mistake…
Crooks is being a bit dramatic here.
Yes, Walker should have cleared the ball away when he had the chance. It was a pretty ridiculous decision by an experienced player to try a backheel in his own box. The Blades would likely not have equalised had he done so.
But Walker will know full well it was a stupid thing to do.
It is just one of those things. Walker must have felt it was genuinely on.
It wasn’t, and he will now hopefully move forward with a sharper focus.
One thing Crooks does not mention is the fact that Walker atoned for the mistake by playing a big part in the winning goal.
It shows character and leadership to instantly make up for a mistake.
