Gary Lineker has responded to Roy Keane branding Erling Haaland a 'League Two player' following his performance for Manchester City against Arsenal.
The highly anticipated Premier League clash between Man City and Arsenal ended in a goalless draw.
Haaland had a rare off day in front of goal as he failed to make a huge impression in Sunday's league meeting.
After the match, Keane pulled no punches in his assessment of the Norwegian forward's general play.
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He said the 23-year-old is 'almost like a League Two player' in a scathing putdown.
"In front of goal, he’s the best in the world but for his general play for such a player, it is so poor. Not just today," he said on Sky Sports.
"He has to improve that. He’s almost like a League Two player - that’s the way I look at him. His general play has to improve."
Lineker caught wind of Keane's damning comments as he jumped to the defence of Haaland, who has scored 18 league goals this season.
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"I know Roy’s being Roy, but it was a tad much," the Match of the Day host began. "It made me laugh. I imagine he wasn’t taken completely seriously?"
The former Leicester City, Barcelona and Tottenham forward believes Haaland's hold up game will improve over time as he seemed to aim a dig at the former Manchester United captain.
"It’s an area of his game that will improve as you get older and learn a few tricks, buy yourself free-kicks backing into people. I used to do that a lot, but I didn’t have his stature," he added.
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"It can be frustrating and at times it will bounce off you, you will lose it. Players [who] haven’t played up front say he needs to hold it up, but you have no idea how difficult that is."
No player has more goals than Haaland in the Premier League this season.
It comes after he bagged a staggering 52 goals in all competitions last season.
His goals speak for themselves, but, according to some critics, his overall game still needs improving.
Topics: Erling Haaland, Roy Keane, Gary Lineker, Football, Manchester City
Nasir Jabbar