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Liverpool's 'problem' is that their fans don't offer their team as much support in Premier League matches while Neymar's display at Anfield this week was “a disgrace”, Joey Barton has blasted.

The outspoken Scouser, who is back in the game in his first managerial position with League One Fleetwood Town after being handed an 18-month ban from football after admitting a FA charge in relation to betting, believes that the atmosphere for Reds home matches in domestic fixtures does not compare to that inside the ground for European nights.

Huyton-born Barton, 36, told talkSPORT's Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast: “The problem for Liverpool is the fans don’t get up for the league games in the same way as they do in the Champions League.

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“Anfield has always had those special nights in Europe. The atmosphere with the flags and the flares is amazing.

“That’s why I think Liverpool have been better in Europe as opposed to the Premier League.

“They haven’t won a league title for 28 years now, and the reason why I think they got to the Champions League final last season was a lot down to the energy the fans gave the players.

“But, maybe it will be different this season.”

(Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)

Liverpool got this season's Champions League campaign off to a winning start with a last-gasp 3-2 victory over Paris St Germain and Barton was scornful of the performance of the world's most expensive player Neymar in the fixture.

He said: “I haven’t rated him for a while.

“He’s a phenomenal player, but he just plays for himself.

“I think he’s adversely affected that PSG team, I think they were better before they signed him.

(Image: PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)

“I know he’s a wonderful player and he brings a lot of revenue for the club, it’s probably why they’ve got the Air Jordan arm of Nike as a kit sponsor because of his flamboyance.

“But he was a disgrace, actually, for the way he played against Liverpool.

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“I didn’t half feel sorry for the full-back. He got no cover at all from Neymar, who was just doing his own thing.

“Mbappe wasn’t good either, but at least he had a run around, at least he had half a go.”

The much-travelled Barton, who played for Manchester City, Newcastle United, QPR, Marseille, Burnley and Rangers throughout his career was not unimpressed with the French side's work rate in general.

(Image: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

He added: “PSG want to be a top side and they are a very good team, but you can’t have your front three not defending.

“Contract them to Liverpool’s front three – all equally good players and all working incredibly hard for the team.

Five key talking points from PSG game Sturridge showing his worth Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says that Daniel Sturridge has repaid his faith after scoring the opening goal in the win over PSG. The England striker scored on his first Champions League start in six years and Klopp believes he's a real option for his side. Salah DID celebrate Don't believe everything you see on social media. If you did, then you would believe that Mohamed Salah wasn't happy that Roberto Firmino had scored Liverpool's winner over PSG. But we've debunked that rumour here. He was actually delighted his side had picked up three points on Matchday One. Tuchel's mad quotes The PSG boss claimed that last night's result was “not logical” following his side's 3-2 defeat. His quotes are very similar to the ones he made after he lost 4-3 at Anfield as Borussia Dortmund manager in 2016. Read his quotes from last night here. Neymar wouldn't get in Liverpool side The national media have been having their say over last night's game - and Neymar was the focus of the Daily Mail's Ian Ladyman. He wrote: "Neymar would not get in this Liverpool team, strange as it sounds. That has nothing to do with his ability — almost unparalleled in the modern game — but everything to do with the way he plays." Read how the rest of the national media covered the game here. Hendo chops PSG down to size Our sports editor, Dave Prentice, has taken a look at Jordan Henderson's performance against PSG. The Liverpool captain's performance hasn't got the recognition it deserved, but Prenno has high praise. He says Henderson has picked up where he left off from last season.

“If you’re going to be successful at any level, whether that’s Fleetwood Town in League One, the Premier League or the Champions League, you need to be a team.

“I didn’t see that from PSG, I was really disappointed with them, and Liverpool deservedly won the game.”