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Romelu Lukaku during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion in London, England, December 2021.

Watch: Everything that Sky Sports pundits have said about Lukaku

Chelsea against Liverpool is one of the biggest matches of any Premier League season but the build-up to Sunday’s match has been dominated by Romelu Lukaku.

In an interview with Sky Italia, recorded a few weeks ago but aired this week, Lukaku – who has performed fitfully this season – said he was unhappy with his role at the club and would like to return to Inter Milan in the near future.

And the assembled team of Sky Sports pundits backed Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel over the £97.5million signing.

“You’re trying to understand how a player has got to a stage where he’s come out with such a ridiculous and damaging statement,” said Graeme Souness.

“It was totally disrespectful. He’s 29 years old not 19 and he should know better. This damages the football club enormously. It’s like walking into a dressing room and telling the other guys, ‘I don’t want to be with you anymore’.

“Tuchel has put a marker down and Lukaku has more than crossed the line. He has to apologise to his team-mates. It was so offside, it beggars belief.”

Taking a slightly different view, Gary Neville said:

“What I’m looking for now from Lukaku isn’t a sorry. I don’t think he can say sorry if he’s told the truth as brutally as he has all he can do is make this relationship transactional.

“He should say, ‘I said what I said, I stand behind what I said, in hindsight, I should have kept it to myself but I guarantee you I’ll give you my all for the next 3-4 years of my contract because there’s been a large investment into me’.”

“The problem I have with it is Lukaku has done this at every club he’s been at,” said Jamie Carragher. “He’s not shy in doing an interview and dropping a few hints about him not being 100 per cent happy.”

You can hear their full views, alongside those of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, below.


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