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Roy Keane has qualified his comments about Liverpool's style of play, insisting those offended by his recent statement need to “lighten up a little.”

The Manchester United legend caused a stir when talking about the Reds last week.

“It's hard to get excited about them,” Keane had told ITV. “To me, they are going nowhere fast.

"They're neat and tidy, but defensively... come the end of the season when the prizes are being given out, Liverpool will be nowhere near them.

"If Liverpool were playing out in my back garden, I wouldn't watch them. They're just drifting. Drifting nowhere."

The comments prompted a wave of criticism from angry Reds fans, but Keane says the remarks were made in jest – and insisted that he had huge respect for the club.

“It was tongue in cheek,” said Keane, speaking ahead of Republic of Ireland's World Cup play-off against Denmark this weekend.

“Anyone who has ever spoken to me about football will tell you the huge respect I have for Liverpool. I grew up watching them in the 80s winning leagues every year.

“My comments were tongue in cheek and hopefully people will see it that way. People should lighten up a little.”