GRAEME SOUNESS has been branded “uneducated” and “clueless” by Aston Villa’s groundsman after the Scot blamed the GRASS for Liverpool’s humiliation.
The former Reds player and manager criticised the hosts on Sky Sports on Sunday evening shortly after Villa’s famous 7-2 victory.
Graeme Souness blamed the length of the Villa Park turf for Liverpool’s 7-2 lossCredit: Sky Sports
Aston Villa put Liverpool to the sword with a 7-2 win on Sunday eveningCredit: Alamy Live News
Souness claimed Aston Villa officials had deliberately left the grass long in a bid to slow down the champions’ rapid passing play.
The famously outspoken pundit said: “What I would say, Villa, and it’s the same for both teams, I think they’ve left the grass longer than normal to slow Liverpool’s movement.
“All the top teams want short grass, a fast pitch. That doesn’t look like a fast pitch to me.”
Sky Sports host David Jones called Souness’ feeble excuse “sour grapes”.
And Villa’s groundsman, Eddie Mills, has hit back – calling Souness “uneducated” and “clueless”.
Mills roared: “Graeme Souness’s uneducated comments about the Villa pitch are insulting to all the massively hardworking groundsman up and down the country who put their hearts and souls into their proud work! #clueless”.
After Souness’ comments, Villa legend Gabby Agbonlahor took to Twitter to poke fun.
The ex-England striker shared a Photoshopped image of Souness sitting atop a ride-on lawnmower – complete with Jack Grealish looking confused.
Agbonlahor captioned the post: “Just seen Souness at Villa Park cutting grass man he’s been there a few hours already”.
Meanwhile, Souness landed himself in hot water during Sunday’s broadcast.
Earlier in the day – during Manchester United’s 6-1 annihilation at home to Tottenham – the Scot lashed out at Erik Lamela’s theatrics after Anthony Martial’s tame swipe.
Souness bizarrely claimed: “He’s gone down, it’s pathetic. It’s very Latin.”
Ossie Ardiles lashed out at Souness on Twitter, saying: “I take exception to the ‘Latin’ comment of Graeme Souness about @ErikLamela.
“Stereotyping all Latin football players in this way is grossly unfair.”
Sky Sports were later forced to apologise for Souness’ quip.
Before wrapping up the broadcast, Jones said: “I have to say before we go, earlier in the show we were critical of Erik Lamela’s part in Anthony Martial’s sending off in the Manchester United-Spurs game.
“We’d like to apologise for any offence that was caused and the stereotyping of the Latin culture.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
