Rio Ferdinand admits Mo Salah was 'maybe' offside ahead of his opener against Man City

Rio Ferdinand says Mo Salah may have been offside before he opened the scoring in Liverpool's Champions League clash with Manchester City on Tuesday evening, but insists that full-back Kyle Walker could have done more to prevent the goal.

Salah got Jurgen Klopp's side off to the best possible start at Anfield when he fired home after just 12 minutes, rounding a flowing move that started when Leroy Sane carelessly gave away possession.

The Egyptian actually got the move up and running when he latched on to a through ball from James Milner down the right flank, before sliding in Roberto Firmino and being alert enough to pounce on the loose ball when the Brazilian could not convert himself.

However, replays suggested he may have been in an offside position when picking up the ball from Milner and sprinting away from Walker.

BT Sport pundit Ferdinand was dismissive of the tight call, though, laying blame for the goal squarely at the feet of the former Tottenham defender.

Asked if he thought Liverpool's top scorer may have been offside when played through, the former Manchester United captain said: 'Maybe, but I blame Walker here

'He’s got to get Gundogan back, talk to him, he’s also got to get himself in a position to cover and he doesn’t do that. He gambles and plays the offside rule, it doesn’t work for him.

'Firmino fluffs his lines. He gets another bite of the cherry, fluffs his lines there again does Walker, and Salah - devastating in front of goal - gives Liverpool the start they dreamed of.'

It wasn't the only questionable piece of defending in the first half from Pep Guardiola's side. Nicolas Otamendi was guilty of giving the ball away in the centre of the park later in the half, which directly resulted in a third goal for the hosts.

Asked about how Sadio Mane's header came about, Steven Gerrard said: 'This is all about Otamendi – what is he trying to do here?

'They're 2-0 down to start with and then he has the audacity to try and go through the Liverpool team.'