'It's illegal' - Gary Neville blasts Gareth Southgate in Chelsea and Liverpool demand

Manchester United and former England assistant Gary Neville blasted Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate at half time with Slovakia leading 1-0 in the Euro 2024 quarter final.

The pundit begged Southgate to throw caution to the wind after the break as England risk crashing out of the tournament in the round of 16. It was another underwhelming first half showing from the nation, with the side struggling for cutting edge before Ivan Schranz opened the scoring for the underdogs.

Neville called on the England manager to make three half-time changes and demanded to see Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer in action. The 22-year-old, who scored 27 goals in all competitions last term, has only featured once so far at Euro 2024 - a 19 minute cameo in the 0-0 draw against Slovenia.

Palmer impressed in those minutes with Neville believing he could make the difference against Slovakia, alongside Liverpool man Trent Alexander-Arnold and Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon.

Speaking on ITV at half-time, Neville said: "He’s tried minimum interference. It’s now or never for Gareth. He’s got to interfere. He’s got to rip up the script he’s had all tournament.

“We’ve watched this now for three and a half games. We tried to be really positive pre-match thinking that this would be the game today this England team would turn [it around].

“I don’t think it’s a case of one or two substitutes, I think he had to get three on the pitch. We’ve got to see Palmer, Trent and Gordon. He’s got to shift the whole narrative around this game.

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“Gordon will give you a runner and we know Palmer is in better form at the moment than any of those players out on that pitch. Trent Alexander-Arnold, it’s illegal that lad isn’t playing football in a game like this for England today. That kid is the best player we’ve ever seen at full-back in this country. He’s got to be on the pitch.”

England have another 45 minutes to turn it around against Slovakia with a potential quarter-final meeting against Switzerland awaiting on Saturday. The Three Lions have scored just two goals in the tournament so far, coming from Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane.