Stan Collymore has launched a withering attack on Roy Keane's punditry skills after the Manchester United legend labelled Andy Robertson "a big baby" during Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sunday.
Robertson was at the centre of a controversial incident at the half-way point of an entertaining game at Anfield over the weekend when fourth official Constantine Hatzidakis was accused of elbowing the Scotland captain in the face.
Mr Hatzidakis has since been taken off officiating duty while an investigation is undertaken, but Keane was critical of Liverpool defender Robertson during Sky Sports' half and full-time analysis.
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“Do you know what he is? That Robertson," Keane said. "I’ve watched him a number of times. He’s a big baby. That’s what that guy is."
The claim led to laughs from Micah Richards, Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville, who were also on analysis duty, but Collymore, who spent two years at Anfield between 1995-1997, did not see the funny side.
In his column for Caught Offside, the former Reds striker instead laid into former Ireland international Keane, claiming his analysis is aimed to deliberately shock, solely for the purpose of going viral online.
"One thing I didn’t like during the linesman and Robertson incident was Roy Keane’s comments," Collymore wrote. "I respect Keane as a player endlessly. He was a superb midfielder - dynamic, high work rate and a leader among men. Our paths crossed briefly - he was leaving Nottingham Forest as I was going in, but I find his punditry really interesting.
"To call Robertson ‘a big baby’ for his reaction after being elbowed by the linesman was uncalled for. Robertson has been nothing but a good professional for Liverpool and has won the same calibre of trophies as Keane did, albeit, not as many. But to be calling a fellow pro a ‘big baby’ when you’ve seen how he’s conducted himself throughout their career is bang out of order.
"When Keane first came into Sky Sports’ studio, I was expecting to get insight into a serial winner’s mentality and how that may or may not affect players in certain situations, but that hasn’t happened with him at all - some of what he says is purely to become a 30 seconds viral clip on social media."
Collymore added: "The way he talks is like ‘I was the hardest working player with the highest standards to ever live’ – and in a lot of ways, that is true, which is why he was such a driving force for Manchester United, but his punditry has descended into the comical at times.
"Sky Sports are encouraging him to say something controversial just for the clicks and the views.
"I have no problem with any pundit giving constructive criticism and feedback on a player’s behaviour or performance, but for Keane to go after a player who has conducted themselves well when he wasn’t a saint is nothing less than hypocritical in my opinion, because let’s face it, if Keane was the perfect player, he would have lifted the 1999 Champions League in United’s kit, instead he was suspended for the final."
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