An expert lip reader has revealed what Man City star Kyle Walker and Brentford forward Neal Maupay said to each other during their heated exchange at the Gtech Community Stadium on Monday.
City ran out 3-1 winners in West London as a hat-trick from Phil Foden rendered Maupay’s opening goal no more than a consolation.
It moved Pep Guardiola’s side to within two points of Premier League leaders Liverpool but their bid to win a sixth title in seven seasons is now back in their own hands as they have a game in hand over the Reds.
But it wasn’t City’s win, or Foden’s performance, that was the game’s biggest talking point. It was the angry second half exchange between Walker and Maupay that grabbed the headlines.
Late in the second half, Walker was left enraged by a comment from Maupay and had to be calmed down by Guardiola, as well as referee Jared Gillett and fourth official Stuart Attwell.
Guardiola refused to comment on the incident in his post match press conference, while Brentford boss Thomas Frank also refused to be drawn when questioned by reporters.
Lipreader reveals what was said during fiery exchange
However, expert lipreader Jeremy Freeman has now revealed to Mail Online what was said to spark Walker’s angry reaction.
Walker revealed last month that he is currently living away from his wife Annie Kilner and his three children after it was revealed he had fathered a second child with model Lauryn Goodman.
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"I said next question" 😤Pep Guardiola wanted nothing to do with incident between Kyle Walker and Neal Maupay 😳🔗 https://t.co/rdoyNKkWuW pic.twitter.com/xVRHLdmh21
— Hayters TV (@HaytersTV) February 5, 2024
The England international was taunted by home supporters over the scandal throughout the game and it appears he took exception to a comment he claims Maupay made about his children.
Freeman claims Walker approached the fourth official and told him: “I’m going to knock him [Maupay] out.”
Attwell tried to calm the situation before Freeman says Walker continued his rant to referee, Gillett, by saying: “Ref, he spoke about my kids, he spoke about my kids, not once, but twice.”
Freeman then says Maupay protested his innocence by telling Gillett: “I didn’t, it’s OK,” before Gillett, it’s claimed, told the pair: “Let’s deal with it at the end.”
According to Freeman, the Australian referee then turned to Maupay and said: “Now, now, just calm down, listen to me. Think about it, think about it,” to which Maupay replied: “That’s a lie, that’s not fair, I promise you now.”
It is the second time in the space of five days that the French forward has courted controversy in a Premier League game.
Last Wednesday, he clashed with Tottenham Hotspur midfielder James Maddison both during and after Brentford’s 3-2 loss at Spurs after he imitated the England international’s goal celebration.
