Pat Nevin has castigated the defensive performance of David Luiz against Liverpool as 'rotten', and that he displayed all of the worst aspects of his game in one match.

Luiz was responsible for an early second-half penalty for a shirt pull on Mo Salah, who scored to put the match beyond Arsenal’s reach. The foul was reminiscent of some of his worse performances in a Chelsea shirt.

“He was absolutely dreadful,” said Pat of Luiz’s performance.

“All of the things that David Luiz does wrong, he did them wrong in that game.

“It was ridiculous. It was him at his impetuous, stupid worst.

“I was speaking to an Arsenal fan today, and said ‘With a bit of luck, that is all the stupid stuff out of the way now.

“[The tug] was just ridiculous – and having the cheek to argue with the referee about it!

“Getting too close to Salah was just child-like. To see him doing that, he needs his manager back on top him to make sure he gets his head screwed on again.”

Pat believes that the pace and trickery of the Egyptian forward did for Luiz.

“The simplest thing is – there are some players that you don’t get too close to. Say Aguero; you don’t get too tight to him because he will roll you.

“With bells on it, that is Mo Salah.

“That is a panicked player. He got out too wide, and because he is out wide, he is not comfortable there, and he gets too tight to him.

“It was rotten.”

Pat also thinks that it is one particular third of the pitch that may cost them in their pursuit of a Champions League position this year.

“That attacking area looks ok, the midfield probably has to improve a bit, but if they get that back sorted then they have a chance at the top four.

“But if they defend like that, then they have no chance.”

Subscribe to Off The Ball's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.