Kyle Walker sent off for "brain meltdown" tackle as Man City lose to RB Leipzig

Kyle Walker has been slammed by fans after his cynical foul on RB Leipzig's Andre Silva earned him a red card, meaning he will be unavailable for selection in the Citizen's first-leg Round of 16 tie

Manchester City will have to be without Kyle Walker for the first leg of their opening Champion League knockout game after the defender kicked Andre Silva of RB Leipzig and was sent off.

The Premier League club played against the German club in their final group stage game, losing 2-1 inside a stadium with no fans.

Despite the game having no consequence to City’s final position in the table, with them having sealed top spot, Pep Guardiola opted to field a strong side, with Kevin de Bruyne given his first start since November 6.

But the away side still lost at the Red Bull Arena, with veteran England international Walker given his marching orders for a deliberate boot to the back of Silva’s legs on 82 minutes.

City fans bemoaned Walker online, saying his decision to lash out was utterly pointless.

Someone wrote: "Kyle Walker is a class player but sometimes just has a brain meltdown."

Another said: “Kyle Walker... WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT!?”

A third complained: “Luckily only a one-match ban for Kyle Walker's stupidity. Why's he even on the pitch?”

One bleated: “What is Kyle Walker doing , missing the last 16 now. What an embarrassment that sending off is. Pep Guardiola will be absolutely fuming inside. Absolutely needless on Silva that in a game Manchester City just need to get played nothing riding on it whatsoever.”

Guardiola, meanwhile, also suggested he was less than impressed with Walker’s actions during the game.

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He said after the game, via Andy Hampson: "It is a red card, definitely. I am not coming here to say what will happen in the dressing room.

“We played better in the second half. We were more aggressive. We played to win the game. We lost it, congratulations to Leipzig.”

The Germans opened the scoring when Dominik Szoboszlai rounded youngster Zack Steffen, before Silva made it two with a decent finish.

City had hit the post through Phil Foden but it was Riyad Mahrez’s diving header that was their only goal of the game.